Cabinet
1760-1765 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This commode's japanned (painted) doors open to reveal six drawers also decorated with japanned scenes. Japanned furniture began to become fashionable in Britain in about 1700-1710, and was boosted in the 1750s, partly in response to the French fashion for furniture using genuine Japanese lacquer panels. Hence this piece would have broadcast the owner's knowledge of the latest arrival on the scene of style and good taste.
Design & Designing
The two doors depict fishing scenes stacked in a strongly vertical perspective, typical of Japanese designs on lacquer and ceramics. This suggests that the craftsman was familiar with true Asian lacquer, not merely pattern books. A commode exists that is almost identical in form to this piece, but it has panels of incised lacquer on the doors and borders rather than japanning. This indicates that both pieces were made in the same workshop. The cabinet maker probably designed a standard type of commode and offered a variety of exterior decoration to suit the budget and taste of the client.
Subjects Depicted
The shaped apron (ornamental piece running beneath the doors) illustrates the fusion of East Asian and Western motifs that often occurred on Chinoiserie pieces. It is japanned with a floral design inspired by bamboo leaves, but they end in a classical husk or calyx (flower bud) motif.
This commode's japanned (painted) doors open to reveal six drawers also decorated with japanned scenes. Japanned furniture began to become fashionable in Britain in about 1700-1710, and was boosted in the 1750s, partly in response to the French fashion for furniture using genuine Japanese lacquer panels. Hence this piece would have broadcast the owner's knowledge of the latest arrival on the scene of style and good taste.
Design & Designing
The two doors depict fishing scenes stacked in a strongly vertical perspective, typical of Japanese designs on lacquer and ceramics. This suggests that the craftsman was familiar with true Asian lacquer, not merely pattern books. A commode exists that is almost identical in form to this piece, but it has panels of incised lacquer on the doors and borders rather than japanning. This indicates that both pieces were made in the same workshop. The cabinet maker probably designed a standard type of commode and offered a variety of exterior decoration to suit the budget and taste of the client.
Subjects Depicted
The shaped apron (ornamental piece running beneath the doors) illustrates the fusion of East Asian and Western motifs that often occurred on Chinoiserie pieces. It is japanned with a floral design inspired by bamboo leaves, but they end in a classical husk or calyx (flower bud) motif.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 8 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Pine and oak carcase, japanned in gold on a black ground, with gilt brass mounts |
| Brief description | Cabinet, English, 1760-1765, japanned black and gilded |
| Physical description | Commode, japanned in black and gold on an oak carcase. The top is decorated with an oval design of a ship and buildings in a landscape and sprigs of foliage in the spandrels. The whole decoration is enclosed within a border and the edges bound with gadrooned brass moulding. The curved front, is decorated with trees and buildings and the sides with large sprays of foliage. The front and sides are panelled with brass mouldings. The doors enclose six drawers decorated in a similar style and fitted with brass loop handles. The shaped corners are mounted with chased ormolu mounts. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The doors of this commode are 'japanned' (painted) in imitation of Asian lacquer. Chinese and Japanese lacquer had been imported since the 17th century.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Possibly made in London |
| Summary | Object Type This commode's japanned (painted) doors open to reveal six drawers also decorated with japanned scenes. Japanned furniture began to become fashionable in Britain in about 1700-1710, and was boosted in the 1750s, partly in response to the French fashion for furniture using genuine Japanese lacquer panels. Hence this piece would have broadcast the owner's knowledge of the latest arrival on the scene of style and good taste. Design & Designing The two doors depict fishing scenes stacked in a strongly vertical perspective, typical of Japanese designs on lacquer and ceramics. This suggests that the craftsman was familiar with true Asian lacquer, not merely pattern books. A commode exists that is almost identical in form to this piece, but it has panels of incised lacquer on the doors and borders rather than japanning. This indicates that both pieces were made in the same workshop. The cabinet maker probably designed a standard type of commode and offered a variety of exterior decoration to suit the budget and taste of the client. Subjects Depicted The shaped apron (ornamental piece running beneath the doors) illustrates the fusion of East Asian and Western motifs that often occurred on Chinoiserie pieces. It is japanned with a floral design inspired by bamboo leaves, but they end in a classical husk or calyx (flower bud) motif. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.61:1 to 8-1931 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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