The sun., 1919-04-15
AGED ROYAL DESK is
GIVEN TO MUSEUM
Present Is GIN Memory Of J. P.
Morgan" and Souvenir Of
U. s. Help to France.
18TH CENTURY PRODUCT
Ingenious Designer Provided
an Endless Series Of
Secret Drawers.

Tho most important Of tho recent ac-
cessions Of tho Metropolitan Museum Of
Art, which were placed on view yester-
day Tor the first time. is . splendid desk
Of eighteenth century French manufae-
ture and bearing the royal arms Of
France. II was presented to the mu-
scum by Jacques seligman Of Paris elm
memory Of Mr.. J. P. Morgan and n SOU
vsnir of the help which the Americans
have given to France during the war"
The Bourbon lilies and royal crown
that ngure In the cartouchs on both the
front and back of the desk seem to In
dictate that 1t was made for Louis XVI,
as the ornament Of the deck 10 that Of
his reign, and the desk itself il clearly
intended for royal uses. The desk Is Of
the cylinder-bureau type, OF mahogany
and ebony and richly decorated with
ormolu mounts, which are works of art
In themselves.
A vast amount Of ingenuity has been
expended by the designer In profidins
an endless series of. secret drawers and
compartments, sliding panels and ap-
pliances that may be adapted to several
uses. It will astonish the average OBJ
server to notice what an effort At COM
pectness has been made in q desk that
was doubtless intended for such q spa.
cious residence as the palace at Yer
sailles. Apparently there are accom-
modations for everything that could at.
feet the business Of state In this ono
desk.
Hard Task to Open Desk.
Even to open the desk would tax the
ability Of q Minister Of State. A small
key. for instance. opens a little drawer
which contains the real key to the
desk. Then a secret spring in the
ormolu mount must be pressed. when
an ornamental mask of q woman's head
drops down. revealing tho keyhoie.
But that 10 not all 1t IL necessary
TO make half turn with the kay to
the left. push the key In entirely and
then make eight complete turns from
right to left. The key In then pulled
out halfway and pressed toward the
right. while ut the same time the slid
Ing cover OF the desk is raised.
With that the desk chair. which IL
part OF the desk. may be pulled out
and also the leather covered tablet, and
access may be had to q hiding place
for jewels and the secret places for
papers. providing that one has had tho
correct tip in advance as to all the
levers that must be touched and springs
to DO pressed. There are even two
little panels that slide out and give
a passageway by which the King may
pass papers to his secretary At the
back. for there IL a separate desk &C.
commodation for a secretary At the rear
which IL equally ingeniously contfived.
The desk formed part Of the Murray
Scott collection, bequeathed to Lady
Sackville. from whom Jacques Seligman
acquired II in 1914. Sir Murray Scott
inherited his collection from the widow
Of Sir Richard wallace. whose secretary
he had been. Sir Richard wallace In
turn inherited the larger part of the IA
nous collection that bears his name from
the celebrated Marquess OF Hartford. one
OF the most celebrated connolsseurs Of
the nineteenth century.
History of Desk Authenticated.
It was not until 1897. seven years az
ter her husbands death. that Lady Wal
lace oequeathed the collection to the
British nation. The history Of the desk
In therefore amply established. but II re-
mains to be discovered what artist made
this piece Of furniture. Mr.. Brock OF the
museums stan thinks II approximates to
the style OF Guillaum Beneman as nearly
az any.
A group Of old prints. given to the
museum by Mortimer l. Schiff and Felix
NJ warburE, IL also on view in the room
Of recent accessionA Among them are
brilliant Impressions OF plates by Rem
brandt, Mocetto's Judith. Van Dycks
portrait of Snellincx. eleven subjects by
Durer from the life Of the Virgin. and
Cranach's engraving Of the Elector OF
Saxony.
A special exhibition in the print gal
leries OF ornaments for craftsmen to be
found in the old prints has been ar
ranged for April FL.