Getty Museum

Rolltop Desk

Date

1787–1788

Medium

Oak, fir, and Scots pine veneered with mahogany and maple burl; gilt-bronze mounts; steel fittings

Culture

German

Department

Decorative Arts

Institution

Getty Museum

Made in the Neoclassical style, this monumental rolltop desk is fitted with numerous complicated mechanical devices, the specialty of David Roentgen's workshop. When the writing surface is pulled out, a mechanism automatically withdraws the solid rolltop back into the carcass, displaying the drawers and pigeon holes inside the desk. Behind the large gilt bronze plaque in the middle of the top is a contraption of many parts that moves out and opens at the turn of a key. It contains a folding reading and writing stand with compartments that hold an inkwell and sand pot for use by a person standing at the closed desk.

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