Table
ca. 1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
During the 16th century, objects from Asia were regarded as princely items. For instance, Philip II of Spain, who reigned from 1556 to1598, possessed a set folding chairs from China, that can still be seen at the El Escorial Palace outside Madrid. This table is thought to have been made in Spain, although the table top is decorated with birds, trees and flowers in the style of Chinese silks. The gold painting on black also echoes the characteristic colour scheme of Chinese or Japanese lacquer, which would have been highly valued in Spain at the time. It is an early example of the influence of Asian furniture on European design. But several aspects of its construction follow Spanish design, including the typical iron bracing bars and the divisions of the decoration of the top into geometrical panels. This dividing up of the decoration was also found on the sides of cabinets made in such different centres as Antwerp, Naples and Madrid at that time.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood, decorated with gold painted motifs on a black ground, in imitation of lacquer |
| Brief description | Table of wood, painted in black with decoration in gold of trees, birds and animals, in imitation of lacquer, the frame of the table braced with two curving iron rods |
| Physical description | A table with two trestle ends, fixed to the top with curved, wrought-iron bars, the frame and top painted black and decorated in gold with panels showing birds (parrots, pheasants, cranes, ducks and peacocks), and butterflies amongst trees and shrubs, with animals such as deer, antelopes, hares and foxes. The framing bands with formal scrolling. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchased for £20. Received from Messrs Sotheby Ltd (Lot 111 or III, 27th Oct. 1950), New Bond Street, per Messrs Frank Partridge, 144 New Bond Street, London, W1. RP: 50/3241 "Spanish or hispanic mid 17th c.". Formerly in the possesion of Henry Harris, bought by him in Florence. H. Clifford Smith, 'An Italian Laquered Table', The Burlington Magazine, Vol XXIX, 1916, p 153-4. |
| Historical context | Comparable tables W. Odom, A History of Italian furniture from the Louis XIV to the early XIX centuries, Vol. II, New York, 1967, p. 42. The 'Cardinal's Table', Hinged table top with lacquer decoration - Kunstkammer (Kunsthistorisch) no.4958; Argelimwood (Artocarpus Sp.) black lacquer with gold decoration, brass hinges. This table has been attributed as Ming or Ryuknan, and also Bay of Bengal, but Pedro de Moura Carvalho: 'Oriental Export Lacquerware and their problematic origin', in Jahrbuck des Kunsthistorischen museums Wien, band 3 (2001), pp. 246-261 argues that it was made in India (Golconda 1550-1600), with motifs influenced by Timurid 'chinoiserie', and draws comparisons with painted cottons also from Golconda. See also another table at Schloss Ambras, sent by Albrecht of Austria to Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol (see Vienna 2000 catalogue, cited n125, pp. 21-212, cat no 118. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | During the 16th century, objects from Asia were regarded as princely items. For instance, Philip II of Spain, who reigned from 1556 to1598, possessed a set folding chairs from China, that can still be seen at the El Escorial Palace outside Madrid. This table is thought to have been made in Spain, although the table top is decorated with birds, trees and flowers in the style of Chinese silks. The gold painting on black also echoes the characteristic colour scheme of Chinese or Japanese lacquer, which would have been highly valued in Spain at the time. It is an early example of the influence of Asian furniture on European design. But several aspects of its construction follow Spanish design, including the typical iron bracing bars and the divisions of the decoration of the top into geometrical panels. This dividing up of the decoration was also found on the sides of cabinets made in such different centres as Antwerp, Naples and Madrid at that time. |
| Bibliographic reference | H. Clifford Smith, 'An Italian Laquered Table', The Burlington Magazine, Vol XXIX, 1916, p 153-4, with two illustrations.
Suggests that the decoration was inspired by chinese painted of woven silks, wallpapers and books of designs. Suggests date as 1675-1700. Compares details of the decoration with English tapestries by Jhon Vanderbank. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.58-1950 |
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| Record created | April 4, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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