Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

The inventive talents of David Roentgen are evident in this exceptionally refined desk. The monogram DR inlaid beneath the kehole 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. His artistic creativity is evident in the chinoiserie marquetry scenes, created by using minute pieces of naturally colored exotic woods that have a painterly effect.

To learn more about this desk, please visit: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/120013698

This desk is part of the The Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens

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

Видео Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration канала The Met