The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

The inventive talents of David Roentgen are evident in this exceptionally refined desk. The monogram "DR" inlaid beneath the keyhole on the lower drawer indicates the cabinetmaker's satisfaction with one of his most mechanically ingenuous creations: a single key inserted at different depths unlocks the center drawer, releases the rolltop, or releases the hidden side drawers; if a button is pressed on the underside of these drawers, each swings aside to reveal three other drawers. Above the rolltop, the rectangular structure consists of a single wide drawer. The artist's creativity is evident in the chinoiserie marquetry scenes, created by using minute pieces of naturally colored exotic woods that have a painterly effect.

See Collections to learn more about this desk.

This desk is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Video/Audio (4)

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10679 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16792 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3020 views

Panel

Date:: early 18th century
Culture:: British
Medium:: Wool and silk on canvas
Dimensions:: H. 34 1/2 x W. 21 inches (87.6 x 53.3 cm)
Classification:: Textiles
Credit Line:: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1954
Accession Number:: 54.7.5

This artwork is not on display

Provenance

Oppenheim ; Robinson and Farr, Philadelphia (until 1919; Robinson and Farr sale, Clarke's art rooms, New York, March 20–22, 1919); Irwin Untermyer (until 1954; to MMA)
See also
What
Silk (32,922)

Textiles (32,752)

Needlework (10,342)

Wool (9,527)

Embroidery (5,467)

Canvas (4,596)

Panels (2,843)
Where
Europe (148,586)

United Kingdom (25,557)

England (9,102)

Staffordshire (4,248)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1600–1800 A.D.