Drop-front secretary on stand (secrètaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet) (one of a pair) (part of a set)
ca. 1790
Medium
Oak veneered with ebony, amaranth, holly, ebonized holly, satinwood, Japanese and French lacquer panels, gilt-bronze mounts, brocatelle marble top (not original); steel springs; morocco leather (not original)
Dimensions
H. 52-3/8 x W. 34 x D. 16-1/2 in. (133.0 x 86.0 x 41.9 cm)
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1977
Accession Number
1977.1.13
Art Historical Context
This exquisite drop-front secretary on stand crafted by the renowned Parisian ébéniste Adam Weisweiler around 1790, exemplifies the opulent furniture of late Louis XVI France. One of a pair a larger set, it reflects the Neoclassical elegance favored by the aristocracy on the eve of the French Revolution. Weisweiler, a master of luxury cabinetry, supplied pieces to elite clients, blending functionality with sumptuous decoration in his secrétaires à abattant—desks with folding writing surfaces ideal for intimate letter-writing or scholarly pursuits. The construction showcases virtuoso technique...