It's a Show! It's a Show! It's a Show!

Until January 27, 2013, the MET is hosting an exhibition of the work of master craftsman Abraham Roentgen and his son David.

Berlin Secretary Cabinet

Writing Desk

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Extravagant Inventions - Abraham Roentgen's Writing Desk

Roll-Top Desk

Gaming Table

Commode

All images courtesy of the MET and the NY Times. 

Roentgen created mechanical (meaning pieces that had moving parts) pieces that set the bar for the furniture-making industry of the 18th ce. The Roentgen work spans from 1742 to the shop's closing in the early 1800s. The German based father-son shop revolutionized the French and English furniture industry and created works that still inspire 270 years later. 

Looking at images of their work doesn't do it justice. 

The MET has graciously put videos of curators opening the pieces on its website and you get a chance to see first-hand how the mechanics of each piece works. 

I cannot get the videos to embed to save my life, but here's a link to the website with the videos: Roentgen Exhibit. 

There's also an accompanying catalog for the exhibit which I highly recommend you buy before they're gone!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit, if you can get to the MET---go! 

Ch-ch-check it out!

- Grace