Pultsekretär in der Residenz München

Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen

Description

The desk bureau is one of the most extraordinary pieces of French furniture. Presumably acquired in 1737, it has been ascertainable since 1769 in the Munich Residence in the parade bedroom of the Rich Rooms, the highest ranking room of the parade apartment. Here it stands to this day.

The desk bureau, probably made by the famous cabinetmaker Bernard II Vanrisamburgh (d. before 1767), consists of a complexly formed, elegant furniture corpus. It is covered in a lavish abundance of gilded bronze applications and a Japanese style lacquer décor in gold sprinkling technique on sandalwood ground. The scenes depict exotic Oriental motifs, such as a pipe smoking Japanese and a tea ceremony. This level of elaborate imitation of the highest Japanese lacquer art cannot be found easily elsewhere in Europe.

The finial, a clock and two twin-flame candlesticks, was attached to the escritoire from the outset and turns it into a gesamtkunstwerk, just as the bureau is part of the room as a complete work of art.

A great surprise is hidden inside: the interior of the escritoire with its curved drawers is equipped with bright red lacquer work - and with secret compartments that can only be opened by means of a hidden complicated locking mechanism. Even the locks in hidden areas are decorated. Elector Karl Albrecht (1697-1745) will have deeply impressed selected guests with this extraordinary piece of luxurious furniture.

Author

Cordula Mauß

Rights Statement Description

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0