ticketsMember | Make a donation

Drop-front secretary (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en armoire)

1786–87
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 527
This secretary was made for the Cabinet Intérieur of Louis XVI at the Palais de Compiègne. The cabinetwork was executed under the supervision of Guillaume Beneman (master 1785). The gilt-bronze mounts were modeled by Louis-Simon Boizot (1743-1809), Martin, and Michaud; cast by Forestier; chased by Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), Bardier, and Tournay, among others; and gilded by Galle. Work on the secretary was coordinated by Jean Hauré, entrepreneur des Meubles de la Couronne (active 1774-96). The "eyes" of the marquetry were originally set with gilt-bronze rosettes.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Drop-front secretary (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en armoire)
  • Maker: Guillaume Benneman (active 1785, died 1811)
  • Modeler: Mounts modeled by Louis Simon Boizot (French, Paris 1743–1809 Paris)
  • Modeler: and Martin, possibly Gilles-François Martin (ca. 1713–1795)
  • Maker: and Michaud
  • Maker: Probably cast by Etienne-Jean Forestier (died 1768, master 1764)
  • Maker: Pierre-Auguste Forestier
  • Maker: Chased by Pierre Philippe Thomire (French, Paris 1751–1843 Paris)
  • Maker: and Bardin
  • Maker: and Tournay and others
  • Maker: Gilded by Galle
  • Factory director: Under the direction of Jean Hauré (born 1739, active 1774–after 1796)
  • Date: 1786–87
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Oak veneered with tulipwood, kingwood, holly partly stained green, ebony, and mahogany; brèche d'Alep marble (not original); modern leather; gilt-bronze mounts
  • Dimensions: H. 63-1/2 x W. 32 x D. 15 in. (161.3 x 81.3 x 38.1 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1971
  • Object Number: 1971.206.17
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Audio

Cover Image for 2268. Drop-front Secretary (Secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en armoire)

2268. Drop-front Secretary (Secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en armoire)

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Drop-front secretary (Secrétaire en armoire), Jean Henri Riesener French, Oak veneered with ebony and 17th-century Japanese lacquer; interiors veneered with tulipwood, amaranth, holly, and ebonized holly; gilt-bronze mounts; marble top; velvet (not original), French, Paris
Drop-front secretary (Secrétaire en armoire)
Jean Henri Riesener
1783
Commode (Secrétaire à abattant), Jean Henri Riesener French, Oak veneered with ebony and 17th-century Japanese lacquer; interiors veneered with tulipwood, amaranth, holly, and ebonized holly; gilt-bronze mounts; marble top; velvet (not original), French, Paris
Commode (Secrétaire à abattant)
Jean Henri Riesener
1783
Commode (commode à vantaux) (part of a set), Adam Weisweiler French, Oak veneered with ebony, amaranth, holly, ebonized holly, satinwood, Japanese and French lacquer panels; gilt-bronze mounts, brocatelle marble top (not original); steel springs; morocco leather (not original), French, Paris
Commode (commode à vantaux) (part of a set)
Adam Weisweiler
ca. 1790
Combination table, Martin Carlin French, Oak and pine veneered with tulipwood, sycamore, holly, boxwood and ebony; Carrara marble; gilt-bronze mounts; accessories of Sèvres porcelain, rock crystal, silver gilt, and lacquer, French, Paris
Combination table
Martin Carlin
ca. 1775
Drop-front desk (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet), Adam Weisweiler French, Oak veneered with burl thuya, amaranth, mahogany, satinwood, holly, and ebonized holly; painted metal; one soft-paste porcelain plaque; fifteen jasper medallions; gilt-bronze mounts; marble; leather (not original), French, Paris and Sèvres
Drop-front desk (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet)
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1787

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.