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).
Credits
Produced and Directed by
Christopher Noey
Editor
Sarah Cowan
Jib Operator
Kelly Richardson
Camera
Wayne de la Roche
Lighting Director
Ned Hallick
Grip
Jim Purchase
Production Coordinator
Stephanie Wuertz
Production Assistants
Maureen Coyle
Kate Farrell
Jessica Glass
Wardrobe
Robin Schwalb
Object Demonstration
Wolfram Koeppe
Additional contributions from
Staci Hou
Wolfram Koeppe
Paco Link
Tamara Schechter
Eileen Willis
A production of the Digital Media Department
© 2012 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
