Rectangular form, two shades of mahogany, solid and veneer, on four square tapering legs with horizontally ribbed bronze inlays, square bronze cuffs, acorn feet. Hinged table top with bronze edging and automatically emerging book-rest can be tilted and raised to various levels. One wide drawer in table skirt with ribbed bronze border and two bronze swag handles contains sliding leather-covered writing surface over three inner rear drawers and two sliding covered drawers in front, one of which is compartmented and can be pulled out through side of large drawer. Above each leg on skirt, a square cuff, three vertical grooves and a rosette; bronze beading frames central panel on each side. Horizontal splits through top in four places, badly scratched in upper left corner, other minor scratches, missing beading, missing pieces of wood.

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Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object.
1952	We acquired this object.
2015	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2019	You found it!

Architect's Table (Germany), 1780–95

This is a Architect's table. It was designed by David Roentgen. It is dated 1780–95 and we acquired it in 1952. Its medium is carved and joined mahogany, mahogany veneer, oak, walnut, pine, cherry, partially tooled and gilt leather, gilt bronze, cut brass, steel and iron. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

This object was donated by Anonymous. It is credited Gift of Anonymous Donor.

Intended to be executed in silver. Shown from above. The plan is in the upper right corner. The scheme is that of a fountain with an oblong basin with circular, obliquely disposed bowls at the corners. Three sitting griffins support each of the three bowls which the support the fountain. In front of the straight central parts are a stream god lying upon a shell, at the back two wind gods sitting upon a shell and supporting a dial which stands between them. A sketch above, at left, shows this motif. Written above the figure, at left: "oleo cento"; at right: "Zefiro vento" "15" is written in ink, in the upper right corner of the frame, in opposite direction. In each bowl is a cupid, upon a dolphin, from which water pours. In the center is an ovoid base formed by three steps. Above it four winged and armless mermaids. Two dolphins with tails carry a bowl in which "venus" stands. Below is a dark vase stripe. The background is colored. Letters are written in the plan. The captions begin below it:
"Pianta di una scrivania da/farsi in Argento figurando una Fontana di cenere al Bagno."A" [both halves of the back of the lower basin] Bagnvola rota p[er] metere sigilli e cera/di Spagna "B" [the bowls at the front] piano figura/agva "C"[the bowl at the back, at left] sito per campanello 'the next word had been struc hout] "D" [the bowl at the back at right] ["bugia" had been struck out] Sito della bugia. "E" [in the shell at the front] sito o[ve]e/ untiratore capaco p[er] la grandezza/della carta da scrivere si tira/ via il fiume conchiglia [struck out: "ove sta il"]fiore e tiratore." Above, at left: below the sketch is written: "F" [in the shell at the back] sito ove la labra conchiglia litica/ la cochiglia e le due Figure che/regano lorologio e sticchia. "H"[both halves of the front of the lower basin] Il piano/sarra lavorato a Raeschi cisellati/ [ in the upper basin] siti lavorati in forma di acqua/vale a dire li quatro Siti e quello/sotto la bagnarola." "15" is written in ink, in the upper right corner of the frame, in opposite directions.

Drawing, Inkstand, ca. 1810
pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, graphite on off-white laid paper.
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
1938-88-8189

Foldable Wheelchair Wheel, Morph Wheel, 2007

Foldable Wheelchair Wheel, Morph Wheel, 2007
glass-reinforced nylon, aluminum.
Lent by Duncan Fitzsimons.
52.2017.1

Foldable Wheelchair Wheel (Folded), Morph Wheel, 2007

Foldable Wheelchair Wheel (Folded), Morph Wheel, 2007
glass-reinforced nylon, aluminum.
Lent by Duncan Fitzsimons.
52.2017.2

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 81 x 83.3 x 69.7 cm (31 7/8 x 32 13/16 x 27 7/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Architect's Table (Germany), 1780–95; Designed by David Roentgen ; carved and joined mahogany, mahogany veneer, oak, walnut, pine, cherry, partially tooled and gilt leather, gilt bronze, cut brass, steel and iron; H x W x D: 81 x 83.3 x 69.7 cm (31 7/8 x 32 13/16 x 27 7/16 in.); Gift of Anonymous Donor; 1952-160-1

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CfXk/
Accession Number 1952-160-1
Object ID 18390833