The Japanese style of 'lacquer' on this cabinet was much favoured by the leading European japanner, Gerard Dagley of Spa in Belgium, who moved to Berlin in 1686 to work for his patron, the Elector Frederick William II of Bradenburg. Dagley particularly favoured a white 'lacquer' ground combined with this type of 'feathery' decoration, although in this case the decoration is too dense to merit an attribution to him or his workshop, but it is probable that the inspiration for this cabinet came from his work (see: O. Impey, Chinoiserie, The Impact of Oriental Styles on Western Art and Decoration, London, 1977, pp. 116-117)

Stalker and Parker wrote A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing, London, 1688, but it was John Stalker of the Golden Ball in St. James's Market who was the more important of the two, for it was he who signed the dedication to the Countess of Darby. The book is made up of precise instructions on all the apsects of japanning, including white japanning and has twenty-four plates of suggested designs. Plate 14 is of a two-handled vase with foliage and flowers similar to that on the doors of this cabinet.