Writing Table with Mechanical Fittings (table mécanique or schreibtisch)

The Roentgen family of Germany produced exquisite furniture with ingenious mechanical fittings, coveted by aristocratic patrons throughout 18th-century Europe. The panel that forms the top of this table probably originally adorned the front of a tall cabinet acquired by King Louis XVI of France. When the cabinet was dismantled after the French Revolution, its parts were incorporated into new furniture. In this panel of marquetry, the variously colored sections were cut and arranged to resemble an illusionistic painting of spirited young musicians. The small patch at the top center marks the former cabinet's keyhole. The Widener collection also includes a writing table that belonged to Louis's queen, Marie Antoinette.