Hidden for 200 Years

The Germanische Nationalmuseum acquires for its furniture collection

a bureau cabinet by Johann Klinckerfuß, a pupil and one of the most successful follower of the famous ebenist David Roentgen, Neuwied.

The drawing for this “large bureau cabinet, around 1793”, belongs to the bequest of around 180 drawings by Klinckerfuß, which were discoverd in an old private collection and acquired by the Württemberg State Museum in the year 2000.

The design drawing is published in David Roentgen, Möbelkunst und Marketing im 18. Jahrhundert, page 165, plate 8, with the author's note by Wolfgang Wiese: "However, to this day (2009) no directly comparable piece of furniture from the Roentgen workshop is known".

A well-kept secret

What remained hidden for over 200 years, was a well-kept secret of the Remy family and their descendants – until our recent discovery. This impressive secretaire made of cherry wood represents the first independent work of Johann Klinckerfuß, that was created in Neuwied, still in the workshop of his master David Roentgen.

The discovered drawing of it, proves the authorship of Klinckerfuß. The Germanische Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, presents this important German furniture, according to its significant provenance, as „Der Remy'sche Schreibsekretär” (inventory number: HG13313).