Secretary Cabinet c. 1775

David Roentgen, a German cabinet maker, constructed this secretary cabinet, a luxurious item, sometime in the late 18th century. The cabinet is an emblem of its time; it reflects the confluence of global trade, artistic innovation, and social stratification. The marquetry, with its light wood inlays, presents idealized visions of distant lands and classical ruins. These scenes transport us to the European imagination during the Enlightenment, a period when the wealthy elite were fascinated by the exotic and the antique. But this fascination often came at the expense of exploiting real people and places. The cabinet would have been a site for writing letters, keeping accounts, and storing valuables, and used by members of the privileged class. The cabinet then becomes a silent witness to the stories, secrets, and power dynamics of its owners. It also prompts us to consider the labor and resources extracted from far-flung corners of the world to create such a status symbol.