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Lot Essay
Conceived in the neoclassical style popularized by Louis XVI and the court of Versailles, this writing table is based on a select group of closely-related tables by David Roentgen.
David (1743-1807) trained under his father, Abraham Roentgen (1711-1793), the most adept German cabinet-maker of his generation. Abraham’s reputation for excellence, both for mechanical devices and illusionistic marquetry, was unsurpassed but his influence rarely stretched further than the borders of his own region. David, however, recognized the opportunities that lay beyond these confines and seized them, securing introductions to, and patronage from, the most significant Royal courts of continental Europe including that of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, Frederick the Great (1740-1786) and Catherine the Great (1762-1796).
David Roentgen’s luxurious and technically advanced mahogany furniture conceived in the 1780s could rival the most sophisticated pieces made in Paris during the reign of Louis XVI (1774-1792). In fact, Roentgen’s distinct elongated forms and pure designs followed a stricter neo-classical idiom than that employed by his French counterparts.
A very similar writing table, attributed to David Roentgen, was sold Christie's, London 4 July 2017, lot 54.
David (1743-1807) trained under his father, Abraham Roentgen (1711-1793), the most adept German cabinet-maker of his generation. Abraham’s reputation for excellence, both for mechanical devices and illusionistic marquetry, was unsurpassed but his influence rarely stretched further than the borders of his own region. David, however, recognized the opportunities that lay beyond these confines and seized them, securing introductions to, and patronage from, the most significant Royal courts of continental Europe including that of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, Frederick the Great (1740-1786) and Catherine the Great (1762-1796).
David Roentgen’s luxurious and technically advanced mahogany furniture conceived in the 1780s could rival the most sophisticated pieces made in Paris during the reign of Louis XVI (1774-1792). In fact, Roentgen’s distinct elongated forms and pure designs followed a stricter neo-classical idiom than that employed by his French counterparts.
A very similar writing table, attributed to David Roentgen, was sold Christie's, London 4 July 2017, lot 54.