Antique Japanned Bookcase Cabinet

Item Description & Information

A late 19th century, antique Japanned bookcase cabinet. The top with a pair of glazed doors enclosing two adjustable shelves sitting on a base with a single shelf. Decorated overall in the Chinoiserie style with gilt scences of exotic birds in watery landscapes all on a plum colour background. 

The art of Japanning developed across Europe and Britain in the 17th century. Original lacquerware was not only expensive but also rare as it required dried sap known as "Lac" from the Chinese Lacquer Tree which was not available in Europe at the time.

In an effort to imitate ebonized lacquers, it became a side trade for some cabinetmakers and upholsterers in Britain to produce and offer alternatives decorated with spirit varnish and oil resins, a technique which came to be known as 'Japanning'.

Due to constrained access to the Asian cartography in the 17th century, European artists had limited understanding of the differences in Chinese, Japanese and Indian culture. They had to rely on the accounts and retellings by merchants and traders. The 17th/18th century Chinese and Asian art and imagery produced in Europe thus often became conflated resulting in mixed scenes with imaginary and fantastical elements; academically referred to as the Chinoiserie style.

Measurements: 208.2 cm (H); 110 cm (W); 48.5 cm (D). 

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