The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

Hidden Doors and Secret Drawers: Furniture by the Roentgens

Wolfram Koeppe, the Marina Kellen French Curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, discusses the intricate furniture designs created by Abraham and David Roentgen. The father-and-son team created innovative designs that were combined with intriguing mechanical devices to revolutionize traditional French and English furniture types.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens, on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013.

The exhibition and catalogue are made possible by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation.

David Roentgen: Long-Case Clock
(00:00:52)

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 11524 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 18103 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3147 views

Paris as a Youth

Date:: probably 1560–80
Culture:: Flemish, Brussels
Medium:: Wool, silk (18 warps per inch, 6-7 per cm.)
Dimensions:: H. 137 1/2 x W. 207 inches (349.3 x 525.8 cm)
Classification:: Textiles
Credit Line:: Gift of H. Edward Manville, 1941
Accession Number:: 41.203

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: (in panel at center of top border) COSILIAT CANTV IVVENV PARIS OMNIV AMORE/DAT SOCYS FRVCTVS BALNEA MVLTA PETENS; (on bottom edge of Paris's tunic) ALEXAI (ALEXAAI?) (Free translation: Paris by his song gains the love of all the youths/He gives his companions fruits and visits [or seeks] many baths, by M. Milne, 26 N 46)
Provenance

[ Christie, Manson and Woods , London, May 18, 1911, no. 103; sold to Bush ] ; [ French and Co., New York ; sold to H. Edward Manville ] ; H. Edward Manville , Pleasantville, New York (until 1941; to MMA)
See also
What
Silk (33,917)

Textiles (32,866)

Wool (10,032)

Tapestries (2,190)
Where
Europe (150,419)

Belgium (1,155)

Brussels (289)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,608)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,228)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Low Countries, 1400–1600 A.D.
MetPublications
Search for related Met publications