David Roentgen (1743-1807) designed and built furniture in the late 18th century for the imperial courts of Europe. He was soon a favorite of Catherine II of Russia, as well as the French court of Louis XVI. His work espoused the intricacy of the Rococo period. The Rococo period, as you will recall, followed the Baroque period in Europe, and embraced craftsmanship and detail, with frequent use of curves. Touches of the Baroque were also present in Roentgen’s monograms and marquetry. Through his career, Roentgen transitioned to the neoclassical.
marquetry
noun. A type of decorative veneer applied to furniture, made up of a sheet of small pieces of colored woods and often other materials such as ivory, mother-in-pearl, and bone, which were laid out in a pattern and then applied to the carcass… .
The craftsmanship of Roentgen, however, centers on the intricacy of his work–the mystery of inner pulleys, mechanisms, secret compartments, and transitional pieces. The videos below illustrate this genius–regardless of one’s aesthetic. Sadly, the French Revolution hearkened the demise of Roentgen’s workshop; his career never recovered, though his pieces are treasured today. To see a more complete catalog of his pieces, see the MET’s current exhibition.
"Marquetry." Miller, Judith. A-Z of Antiques & Collections. First Edition. 2008. Print. "David Roentgen." Miller, Judith. A-Z of Antiques & Collections. First Edition. 2008. Print.
The Weekend Design 