Cylinder-top Desk, Jean François Leleu, c. 1775 - c. 1785
When the writing slide of this desk is drawn out, the cylinder automatically disappears into the superstructure, revealing the desk’s interior. Leleu was a pupil of the famous Jean-François Oeben who specialized in ingenious mechanical furniture of this kind. The relatively sober decoration of this mahogany piece shows the influence of contemporary English taste at the time.