I wonder if this was used for perfumes and cosmetics

Yes, dressing tables were used as storage for perfume and cosmetics, and perhaps pieces of jewelry. I wonder if the secret drawers did hold some jewelry, or perhaps a diary or letters.

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Course: The Metropolitan Museum of Art > Unit 1

Lesson 14: Extravagant Inventions

Demonstration of the Roentgens' Dressing Table (Poudreuse)

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See how this desk converts into a dressing table.

When closed, this table may not seem like one of the most complex pieces of European furniture ever made. However, once opened, its concealed drawers and hidden features are exposed, and the entire piece transforms into a dressing table, or poudreuse. Scholars believe it was commissioned as a wedding gift from Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen (1743–1807) by Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony, to his bride in 1769.

. Created by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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Residuum
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Residuum's post “Would this have been used...”
Would this have been used to hide things? Or just used as a ornamental piece? It's an amazing piece of work.
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- Max_Smax
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Max_Smax's post “I feel like it has to hav...”
  I feel like it has to have been used to hide things all of those hidden comartments
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  (1 vote)
Cathy Shermer
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Cathy Shermer's post “I wonder if this was used...”
I wonder if this was used for perfumes and cosmetics
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(1 vote)
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- Andree Larson
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Andree Larson's post “Yes, dressing tables were...”
  Yes, dressing tables were used as storage for perfume and cosmetics, and perhaps pieces of jewelry. I wonder if the secret drawers did hold some jewelry, or perhaps a diary or letters.
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  (2 votes)
Eszter Mátyás
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Eszter Mátyás's post “This is something to show...”
This is something to show for friends and demonstrate your wealth or something to hide like a safe?
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(1 vote)
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- mestupid
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to mestupid's post “Both, probably. Anyone wh...”
  Both, probably. Anyone who doesn't use it probably won't know that there are that many drawers and they'll just look at it thinking it's just a table, or, from its amazing polishing, it could be used for wealth. :)
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Helen
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Helen's post “How do they make it? also...”
How do they make it? also why so many hidden featurse
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Me
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Me's post “At 2:01, it's 'poudreuse'...”
At
2:01
, it's 'poudreuse', not 'poudreusse'.
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(1 vote)
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Course: The Metropolitan Museum of Art > Unit 1

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