A JAPANESE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER NAMBAN CABINET EDO PERIOD

A JAPANESE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER NAMBAN CABINET

EDO PERIOD, 17TH CENTURY

Of typical rectangular form with two front doors opening to reveal ten drawers, the outside decorated with shaped panels of flowering branches, the front with two birds amongst vegetation, the top with a pagoda in a mountainous river landscape, in gold maki-e lacquer on a black urushi ground reserved on shagreen, samegawa, the drawers to the inside decorated with further shagreen panels, the inside doors with rhomboid panels of leafy vines, with gilt metal mounts, the borders with bands of diamond cash, 43.5cm x 34.8cm x 63cm.

See the British Museum, access. n. JA1977,4-6,I. for a comparable cabinet with multiple drawers and maki-e decoration.