Cabinet thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Cabinet

1885-1900 (made)
Place of origin

The Ōzeki Company was one of Japan’s most successful purveyors of high-quality crafts. It had branches in Tokyo and Yokohama, and commissioned its products from a variety of specialist workshops. The decoration of shell, ivory and horn on this cabinet is the work of the Shibayama workshop, whose products were extremely popular with westerners.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Cabinet
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Wood and black lacquer cabinet with three drawers, with carved decoration depicting cocks, 1885-1900, Japan.
Style
Gallery label
Cabinet with cockerels 1885–1900 The Ōzeki Company was one of Japan’s most successful purveyors of high-quality crafts. It had branches in Tokyo and Yokohama, and commissioned its products from a variety of specialist workshops. The decoration of shell, ivory and horn on this cabinet is the work of the Shibayama workshop, whose products were extremely popular with westerners. Signed ‘Made by Ōzeki’ for the Ōzeki Company Tokyo or Yokohama Wood covered in black lacquer with gold lacquer decoration; shell, ivory and horn; silver fittings Margary Gift Museum no. W.23-1969 (04/11/2015)
Credit line
Margary Gift
Production
The three signatures seem to refer to the Shibayama work, the lacquer, and the silver mounts
Summary
The Ōzeki Company was one of Japan’s most successful purveyors of high-quality crafts. It had branches in Tokyo and Yokohama, and commissioned its products from a variety of specialist workshops. The decoration of shell, ivory and horn on this cabinet is the work of the Shibayama workshop, whose products were extremely popular with westerners.
Bibliographic reference
J. Earle (Edit), Japanese Art & Design: the Toshiba Gallery Guide, (V&A, 1986). Photograph on p.197
Collection
Accession number
W.23:1-1969

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Record createdJanuary 4, 2000
Record URL
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