Late 17th Century Chinoiserie Cabinet on Stand

17th century

Sold by Lee Wright Antiques & Interiors Ltd

Description

Late 17th Century/early 18th Century black lacquered Chinese Export cabinet on its original stand, which has at one time had careful and sympathetic restoration. Having decoration all over with chinoiserie scenes depicting landscapes and lakes with fishermen, boats and flying birds bordered by foliate surround. The two flush doors with elaborate engraved hinges and clasp, enclosing an arrangement of eleven drawers of various sizes, each finely decorated with varying chinoiserie scenes, having engraved brass handles. The whole raised on the cabriole legged base with a shaped drawer.

This style of cabinet, which originated in China and Japan in the 17th Century, became very fashionable in the west where stands would be made to support them. Eventually japanned copies would be made to imitate oriental lacquer and the form evolved into a pan-European style by the early 18th Century.

We believe the cabinet to date to the late 17th Century and stand to have been made in the early 18th Century. Due to construction and timbers used both pieces point to have been made in China, then eventually exported to the West. It could well be feasible that a Dutch trader may have used this cabinet whilst posted in China and on his return home commissioned the stand to have been made as it has a distinct Dutch design. As noted above the Chinese used their cabinets without stands.

Physical Dimensions

Height

176cm (69.29")

Width

103cm (40.55")

Depth

55cm (21.65")

Declaration

Lee Wright Antiques & Interiors Ltd has dated this piece to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA863224

Dealers Internal Reference

2552

Description

Late 17th Century/early 18th Century black lacquered Chinese Export cabinet on its original stand, which has at one time had careful and sympathetic restoration.

“

Having decoration all over with chinoiserie scenes depicting landscapes and lakes with fishermen, boats and flying birds bordered by foliate surround.

Lee Wright Antiques & Interiors Ltd

The two flush doors with elaborate engraved hinges and clasp, enclosing an arrangement of eleven drawers of various sizes, each finely decorated with varying chinoiserie scenes, having engraved brass handles. The whole raised on the cabriole legged base with a shaped drawer.

fig 1. Late 17th Century Chinoiserie Cabinet on Stand

This style of cabinet, which originated in China and Japan in the 17th Century, became very fashionable in the west where stands would be made to support them. Eventually japanned copies would be made to imitate oriental lacquer and the form evolved into a pan-European style by the early 18th Century.

fig 2. Late 17th Century Chinoiserie Cabinet on Stand

We believe the cabinet to date to the late 17th Century and stand to have been made in the early 18th Century. Due to construction and timbers used both pieces point to have been made in China, then eventually exported to the West. It could well be feasible that a Dutch trader may have used this cabinet whilst posted in China and on his return home commissioned the stand to have been made as it has a distinct Dutch design. As noted above the Chinese used their cabinets without stands.