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Lot Essay
This bureau-cabinet demonstrates the success of the Chinese export trade in combining Oriental arts with Western forms in appealing to the European market during the 18th and 19th centuries. Since as early as the 16th century, Oriental lacquer has been prized in the West for its luminous, hard surface decorated with intricate gold and colored designs, western scenes or Chinese landscapes. Portuguese exports of Japanese Momoyama-period lacquerware during the 16th century not only introduced the West to the exotic luxury good, but also proved a viable market for subsequent Chinese imitators. The popularity of Eastern lacquer, made from the resin of the rhus vernicifera, inspired Western copies of the technique and decoration, a practice called 'japanning'. European japanned trays (see lot), dressing-mirrors as well as larger seat and case furniture were fashionable accessories throughout Europe throughout this period.
Lacquered furniture was made in such centers as Nanking, Tonking and Canton following Western forms, copied from actual examples sent to China or from printed European designs. There, they reached a high point of production and popularity with the Western trade in the early-19th century. While smaller export pieces such as sewing tables, tripod tables, dressing mirrors and tea caddies abound, larger pieces of furniture such as this bureau-cabinet are far rarer for the inherent difficulties and expense of construction and shipping, and so commanded extraordinary attention for their exotic and esoteric decorative appeal. Many larger pieces were actually commissioned, and were emblazoned with the initials or insignia of the patron.
With its distinctive Japanese inspired zig-zag lacquer and gilt patterned borders, this bureau-cabinet is exemplary of gilt-decorated lacquerware made in Canton for the export market. Further decoration such as the interlocking hexagonal trellis background to scrolling grapeleaves, the flower sprig and tendril borders and the masterfully executed landscape vignette on the fall front further link this bureau-cabinet to a body of exported furniture produced between 1785-1820 (C. Crossman, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1991, pp. 264-266). A dressing mirror and case entirely decorated with similar zig-zag decoration from Canton, circa 1800, is now in the Richard Milhender Collection (illus. ibid, pl. 102). An additional pair of bureau-cabinets from Mereworth Castle, Kent, with related surface decoration but with a scrolling pediment sold from the Collection of Michael Tree, Esq., Christie's London, 4 July 1996, lot 297 (117,000). Another bureau-cabinet with bolder use of the zig-zag decoration but with similar profile and oval plates to each door of the top section was sold by the Executors of the late Viscountess Ward of Witley, Christie's London, 25 June 1981, lot 75.
Lacquered furniture was made in such centers as Nanking, Tonking and Canton following Western forms, copied from actual examples sent to China or from printed European designs. There, they reached a high point of production and popularity with the Western trade in the early-19th century. While smaller export pieces such as sewing tables, tripod tables, dressing mirrors and tea caddies abound, larger pieces of furniture such as this bureau-cabinet are far rarer for the inherent difficulties and expense of construction and shipping, and so commanded extraordinary attention for their exotic and esoteric decorative appeal. Many larger pieces were actually commissioned, and were emblazoned with the initials or insignia of the patron.
With its distinctive Japanese inspired zig-zag lacquer and gilt patterned borders, this bureau-cabinet is exemplary of gilt-decorated lacquerware made in Canton for the export market. Further decoration such as the interlocking hexagonal trellis background to scrolling grapeleaves, the flower sprig and tendril borders and the masterfully executed landscape vignette on the fall front further link this bureau-cabinet to a body of exported furniture produced between 1785-1820 (C. Crossman, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1991, pp. 264-266). A dressing mirror and case entirely decorated with similar zig-zag decoration from Canton, circa 1800, is now in the Richard Milhender Collection (illus. ibid, pl. 102). An additional pair of bureau-cabinets from Mereworth Castle, Kent, with related surface decoration but with a scrolling pediment sold from the Collection of Michael Tree, Esq., Christie's London, 4 July 1996, lot 297 (117,000). Another bureau-cabinet with bolder use of the zig-zag decoration but with similar profile and oval plates to each door of the top section was sold by the Executors of the late Viscountess Ward of Witley, Christie's London, 25 June 1981, lot 75.