A Japanese Edo-period cabinet in black lacquered wood, featuring Japanese-style relief decorations of lakeside landscapes, architectural scenes and still lifes, resting on its original Baroque base in gilded wood.

This large cabinet opens at the front via two doors, revealing ten drawers: one large drawer in the upper section and two square drawers with individual gilded bronze locks in the lower section. They are all decorated with landscapes of flower-covered hills, separated by gilded wooden crossbars, and each features gilded bronze handles ending in rosettes. The two interior locks are decorated with chiselled and engraved floral garlands.

The inside of the doors features, on either side, a bouquet of flowers in a vase with a handle.

On the exterior of the doors is depicted a lakeside landscape with traditional Japanese stilt houses surrounded by trees, rocks, flowers, butterflies and birds.

The frame mouldings and the door mouldings and hinges are in gilded bronze, decorated with chiselled and engraved foliage.

The central lock is decorated in a style similar to the lakeside scenes on the main doors, depicting a traditional raised house on the left surrounded by hills and a tall tree, and on the right, bouquets of flowers and birds in flight.

Two gilt-bronze handles on either side of the cabinet, terminating in stylised flowers engraved in gilt bronze.

This cabinet rests on a period Baroque base of gilded wood, richly carved and openworked with flowers, rosettes and scrolls. The acanthus leaf scrolls intertwine to form a floral cluster extending to the tips of the curved legs, creating a sweeping effect. The side panels support a decorative band featuring stylised heart-shaped motifs, upon which the cabinet rests.

This piece is a striking example of the 18th-century European taste for Japanese art. The contrast is striking between the refined simplicity of the black lacquer and the fine Japanese details, and the glitz and sculptural opulence of the gilded Baroque base. This creates a balanced harmony symbolising both the exoticism of the East and European luxury.

This type of Edo cabinet was manufactured in Japan for export to Europe, whilst the base was made in Europe once the cabinet had been imported. This base is therefore original; it was made in France, England or Italy during the same period. However, as this is a two-piece cabinet, the base was often replaced at a later date; it is therefore rare to find an Edo-period cabinet with its original 18th-century base. Here, we clearly see the Japanese beauty so much admired by the European aristocracy, enhanced by French opulence.
Fine 18th-century craftsmanship.
Restoration for use and maintenance.