Cylinder-top Desk

Jean François Leleu, c. 1775 - c. 1785

When the writing slide of this desk is drawn out, the cylinder automatically disappears into the superstructure, revealing the desk’s interior. Leleu was a pupil of the famous Jean-François Oeben who specialized in ingenious mechanical furniture of this kind. The relatively sober decoration of this mahogany piece shows the influence of contemporary English taste at the time.

  • Artwork typefurniture, desk, cylinderbureau, bureau table
  • Object numberBK-14854
  • Dimensionsheight 115 cm x width 117 cm x depth 68 cm x weight 92 kg
  • Physical characteristicseiken-, mahonie-, palm- en ebbenhout, verguld brons, Carrara-marmer