Cabinet
ca. 1910 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jean Baptiste Kohn's cabinet was intended to be a decorative addition to the furnishings of an elegant drawing room, rather than a practical object for robust, daily use.
Lacquer panels were commonly used on the most important, exposed parts of bamboo furniture and hidden parts such as shelves and the inside of cabinets were covered with paper embossed with a bamboo leaf pattern. This was imported from Japan in large rolls and then cut to suit requirements.
The materials used for making bamboo furniture came almost solely from Japan. According to the donor, the cabinet was made in this country. However, it is possible that the whole cabinet was made in Japan (to a design by Jean Baptiste Kohn) and exported in sections, with more fragile parts, such as the mirror glass and the glass for the cabinet doors, added on arrival in Britain. This possibility is supported by the fact that an insurance statement from Tokyo was found under one of the lacquer panels. However, this may have come with the panels themselves or as packing material.
Lacquer panels were commonly used on the most important, exposed parts of bamboo furniture and hidden parts such as shelves and the inside of cabinets were covered with paper embossed with a bamboo leaf pattern. This was imported from Japan in large rolls and then cut to suit requirements.
The materials used for making bamboo furniture came almost solely from Japan. According to the donor, the cabinet was made in this country. However, it is possible that the whole cabinet was made in Japan (to a design by Jean Baptiste Kohn) and exported in sections, with more fragile parts, such as the mirror glass and the glass for the cabinet doors, added on arrival in Britain. This possibility is supported by the fact that an insurance statement from Tokyo was found under one of the lacquer panels. However, this may have come with the panels themselves or as packing material.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bamboo, with lacquer panels, embossed paper and a mirror |
| Brief description | Cabinet designed by Jean Baptiste Kohn, bamboo, ca.1910 |
| Physical description | A tall cabinet made of bamboo consisting of a bamboo open frame with a mirror and three panels containing lacquer illustrations above a cupboard with embossed paper lining, three shelves and glass door. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
When the fashion for Japanese furnishings was at its height, bamboo furniture was stylish and rapidly became a cheap and popular way to achieve a fashionable interior. Though the materials - bamboo, lacquer and embossed paper - all came from Japan, the furniture was almost always made by firms in Britain.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs M. S. E. Wilson, granddaughter of the maker |
| Object history | Jean Baptiste Kohn was grandfather of the donor, and reportedly gave this cabinet to her parents as a wedding present in 1912. |
| Summary | Jean Baptiste Kohn's cabinet was intended to be a decorative addition to the furnishings of an elegant drawing room, rather than a practical object for robust, daily use. Lacquer panels were commonly used on the most important, exposed parts of bamboo furniture and hidden parts such as shelves and the inside of cabinets were covered with paper embossed with a bamboo leaf pattern. This was imported from Japan in large rolls and then cut to suit requirements. The materials used for making bamboo furniture came almost solely from Japan. According to the donor, the cabinet was made in this country. However, it is possible that the whole cabinet was made in Japan (to a design by Jean Baptiste Kohn) and exported in sections, with more fragile parts, such as the mirror glass and the glass for the cabinet doors, added on arrival in Britain. This possibility is supported by the fact that an insurance statement from Tokyo was found under one of the lacquer panels. However, this may have come with the panels themselves or as packing material. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.53-1984 |
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| Record created | April 30, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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