Tea chest
ca. 1750–55
Medium
Oak, cedar, veneered with rosewood; brass, iron, and steel
Dimensions
Overall (without handle): 6 1/2 × 9 1/2 × 5 3/4 in. (16.5 × 24.1 × 14.6 cm)
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
German, Neuwied am Rhein
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Gifts, 1999
Accession Number
1999.147
Art Historical Context
Crafted around 1750–55 by Abraham Roentgen, a master cabinetmaker from Neuwied am Rhein,, this exquisite tea chest exemplifies the height of 18th-century European woodworking artistry. Measuring a compact 6½ × 9½ × 5¾ inches, it was designed to store precious tea leaves—a luxury commodity symbolizing status in Rococo-era households. Roentgen's workshop gained renown for innovative furniture blending functionality with mechanical ingenuity, and this piece reflects that tradition in miniature form. The chest's construction highlights virtuoso techniques: a sturdy core of oak and aromatic cedar ...