ticketsMember | Make a donation

Drop-front desk (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet)

Manufactory Porcelain plaques by Sèvres Manufactory French
porcelain ca. 1764, secretary ca. 1775
Not on view
Several related secretaries are known that have either a porcelain plaque or a marquetry roundel on the fall front and are signed or attributed to Roger Vandercruse. The son of a Flemish cabinetmaker, Vandercruse also used the French equivalent of his name, Lacroix. Typical of his oeuvre is the colorful cornflower and latticework marquetry. The decoration of the large Sèvres plaque, with its geometric pattern of ribbons and shells interspersed with diapered cartouches and garlands, is similar to that of useful wares, and thought to date to about 1764. Antedating the secretary by a decade, it may originally have been intended as the top for a small table. The maltese cross at the center of the plaque alludes to a special commission.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Drop-front desk (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet)
  • Maker: Attributed to Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix (French, 1727–1799)
  • Manufactory: Porcelain plaques by Sèvres Manufactory (French, 1740–present)
  • Date: porcelain ca. 1764, secretary ca. 1775
  • Culture: French, Paris and Sèvres
  • Medium: Oak veneered with satin-wood, green and black-stained wood; gilt bronze, marble, soft-paste porcelain, silk
  • Dimensions: Overall: 50 1/2 × 33 5/8 × 14 in. (128.3 × 85.4 × 35.6 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: Gift of Samuel H. Kress Foundation, 1958
  • Object Number: 58.75.52
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Writing table, Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix French, Kingwood, tulipwood, holly, purplewood on oak and pine, gilt bronze, French, Paris
Writing table
Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix
ca. 1760–70
Desk (bonheur du jour), Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix French, Satinwood, tulipwood, black and green stained wood on oak; gilt bronze, French, Paris
Desk (bonheur du jour)
Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix
ca. 1780–85
Writing table, Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix French, Tulipwood, kingwood, harewood, purplewood, holly veneered on oak, French, Paris
Writing table
Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix
third quarter 18th century
Commode, Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix French, Oak veneered with tulip-, rose-, and end cut kingwood, gilt bronze, rouge griotte marble, French, Paris
Commode
Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix
ca. 1755–60
Candelstand and worktable (table à ouvrage en guéridon), Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix French, Oak veneered with tulipwood, boxwood, holly and ebonized holly, sycamore, and other woods; soft-paste porcelain, gilt bronze, silk, French, Sèvres
Candelstand and worktable (table à ouvrage en guéridon)
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1785

Related Content

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.