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Lot Essay
Abraham Roentgen (1711-1793) was born in 1711 in Müllheim, which today is part of Cologne in Germany. He learned cabinet making in his father's shop and worked as an apprentice in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, before settling in London in 1731. He was soon employed by English cabinetmakers who admired his interesting use of inlay, inventive mechanical fittings, and the hidden drawers he used in his furniture. In 1742 he established himself as a cabinetmaker in Herrnhaag and in 1750 moved to Neuwied where his shop expanded quickly.
Abraham soon became known for furniture of outstanding quality created for the various German courts. One of the most important pieces he executed is the Walderdorffer bureau from circa 1765, which is now in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Roentgen's son David (1743-1807) joined the workshop at the age of fourteen and succeeded his father in 1772 as head of the firm. The two worked in partnership until Abraham retired in 1784.
The Roentgen workshop got into severe financial difficulties following the repercussions of the Seven years war (1756-1763). In order to create some sort of solvency David organised the Hamburg Lottery in 1769. The lottery consisted of one hundred prices comprising the unsold stock which was left in the Roentgen workshop. The pieces were accurately catalogued, and amongst the descriptions are twelve Thee-Shatollen mit einer Schieb-lade, welche vonselbst herausspringt. Roentgen valued these pieces highly, which is reflected in their price of six ducats. This was a considerable sum for an object of this kind, as in those days it was enough for a dayworker to support his family over a period of eight weeks.
Abraham soon became known for furniture of outstanding quality created for the various German courts. One of the most important pieces he executed is the Walderdorffer bureau from circa 1765, which is now in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Roentgen's son David (1743-1807) joined the workshop at the age of fourteen and succeeded his father in 1772 as head of the firm. The two worked in partnership until Abraham retired in 1784.
The Roentgen workshop got into severe financial difficulties following the repercussions of the Seven years war (1756-1763). In order to create some sort of solvency David organised the Hamburg Lottery in 1769. The lottery consisted of one hundred prices comprising the unsold stock which was left in the Roentgen workshop. The pieces were accurately catalogued, and amongst the descriptions are twelve Thee-Shatollen mit einer Schieb-lade, welche vonselbst herausspringt. Roentgen valued these pieces highly, which is reflected in their price of six ducats. This was a considerable sum for an object of this kind, as in those days it was enough for a dayworker to support his family over a period of eight weeks.