Although renowned for making furniture with beautiful marquetry decoration, from the early 1780s Riesener also made furniture decorated with figured mahogany veneers, such as this cylinder desk. Its neoclassical design is both elegant and functional. It provides multiple reading and writing surfaces (most of which can be secured by locking the cylinder top) and beautifully sculpted gilt-bronze candle arms for light, which scroll upwards from the sides of the desk.

Isometric drawings

Graphics showing the construction of the object

Digital model

3D visualisation of the object

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Watch the film below to discover the technical brilliance of Riesener’s furniture design

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