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gray eagle
February 17th, 2015, 11:47
The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary CabinetDiscover the hidden features and intricate interior of this cabinet.

One of the finest achievements of European furniture making, this cabinet is the most important product from Abraham (1711--1793) and David Roentgen's (1743--1807) workshop. A writing cabinet crowned with a chiming clock, it features finely designed marquetry panels and elaborate mechanisms that allow for doors and drawers to be opened automatically at the touch of a button. Owned by King Frederick William II, the Berlin cabinet is uniquely remarkable for its ornate decoration, mechanical complexity, and sheer size.

This cabinet is from Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, and is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens:http://www.metmuseum.org/en/exhibitio... (http://www.metmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/listings/2012/roentgen)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKikHxKeodA#t=97
Naismith
February 17th, 2015, 12:12
That is fabulous. Nowadays of course we have Ikea. Reckon their stuff will be around in 200 years? or 200 days even. :biggrin-new:
I'm sure we still have people capable of making similar, it would just be unaffordable.
Thanks for the video I'll be sharing it.
ViperPilot2
February 17th, 2015, 13:08
There's something to be said for old school, handmade items, instead of the processed stuff that's being cranked out today.
AckAck
February 17th, 2015, 14:41
Pretty sure there was some "mass produced" stuff made in the 1700s as well - at least in as much as this is not a typical desk of the time, so I think it's a bit disingenuous to say that today's equivalent is Ikea. While a desk of similar craftsmanship could be made today, it would be unaffordable, but its not like this desk was affordable at the time, either.

So, enough naysaying from me! It's a remarkable desk.
Naismith
February 17th, 2015, 15:21
Pretty sure there was some "mass produced" stuff made in the 1700s as well - at least in as much as this is not a typical desk of the time, so I think it's a bit disingenuous to say that today's equivalent is Ikea. While a desk of similar craftsmanship could be made today, it would be unaffordable, but its not like this desk was affordable at the time, either.

So, enough naysaying from me! It's a remarkable desk.

You take me too seriously sir.
AckAck
February 19th, 2015, 05:17
You take me too seriously sir.

That's ok, I took the whole thread too seriously. Tried to back out at the last minute, though.