Arkivism
Secretary
Public domain

Secretary

anonymous · c. 1780 - c. 1790 · marqueterie; lacquering; stoneware; maple (wood); copper (metal); satinwood (wood); wood (plant material); rosewood (wood); velvet (fabric weave); blindhout; oak (wood)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Many desks of this type, veneered with light-coloured woods, were made in the Netherlands. This example is unusual for its large plaquettes of jasperware, a fine-grained pottery that imitates carved stone. The plaquettes came from the factory of Josiah Wedgwood in England. Wedgwood stoneware was very popular in the Netherlands. Perhaps this secretary served as a showpiece for Wedgwood's agent in Amsterdam.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineSecretaire. c. 1780 - c. 1790. anonymous. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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