A LARGE JAPANESE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER CHEST FOR THE EXPORT MARKET EDO PERIOD

A LARGE JAPANESE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER CHEST FOR THE EXPORT MARKET

EDO PERIOD, 17TH CENTURY

Of typical rectangular shape with a domed lid, decorated with panels of birds and flowers in gold maki-e and brown lacquer on a black ground, urushi, with details rendered in hiramaki-e, kirigane and takamaki-e raised lacquer and other elements in mother-of-pearl, raden, the borders with bands of cash, the lid with an ox carrying a large basket of flowering branches of prunus, peonies and other blooms, raised on a later European stand with cabriole legs, the coffer 48cm x 95cm x 43cm, 92cm x 101cm x 48cm overall.(2)

Provenance: formerly the collection of Richard, 2nd Marquess of Westminster (d.1869) at Fonthill Abbey, then Lady Octavia Shaw-Stewart (d.1920).