471. AFTER THE "APOLLO" MODEL BY DAVID ROENTGEN (1743-1807). CYLINDRICAL BUREAU, NEOCLASSICAL STYLE, MID 20TH CENTURY.

Lot description

Mahogany and fruit wood.
Reproduction of "Bureau of Apollo" made in 1784 by David Roentgen for the Empress of Russia Catherine II. This model is considered to be the first "architectural"-like piece of furniture made by the German cabinetmaker: from this time onwards, most of Roentgen's works used to reproduce large temples with Greek colonnades, capitals and cornices. The distinctive morphology of this writing desk was the direct result by Baron von Grimm, the Empress's emissary in Paris: Grimm was familiar with the new neoclassical trends in St. Petersburg, and therefore he wanted to please Catherine with such a novel design. The model on auction at Subarna lacks the secret systems of the original model, which were operated by mechanical buttons, but there are a couple of them: the inner columns can be removed by a button inside the drawers, and they are operated by a pair of springs.
In 1790, Catherine II decided to exhibit this treasure at the Hermitage, so that the whole world could see it. And from then on, it was permanently installed in that famous museum.
It has old woodworm holes.
Without key.
158 x 142 x 71 cms.