A rare George I black and gilt japanned bureau-cabinet, the double-domed top with a moulded cornice surmounted by two gilt urns with flambeaux finials above a pair of panelled doors fitted with arched bevelled mirror plates enclosing a red painted fitted interior of shelves, pigeon holes, small drawers, above a pair of candle-slides and a fall enclosing a further fitted interior with pigeon holes, small drawers and a central cupboard and a sliding well, the base fitted with two short and two long drawers on bun feet, with all over chinoiserie decoration. England, first half of the 18th century. H. 216 cm. W. 106 cm. D. 63 cm.
The lacquered objects and screens brought back to Europe by the East India Company in the late 17th century created a demand for larger, more practical objects which shared the same highly colourful and decorative surfaces of their Eastern counterparts. In order to try and recreate the rich and highly finished effect of oriental lacquer work, European cabinet makers turned to John Stalker and George Parker's 1688 Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing which soon became a key reference work, since it contained not only recipes for producing the various different colours but also patterns of Chinese figures, plants and gardens which could be adapted as necessary. European 'japanning' was popular until the end of the eighteenth century and was often used in bedroom apartments in the decoration of mirrors, stands and bureau cabinets such as the present example. As a result of its extravagant decoration a piece such as this could be displayed either open, to reveal its sumptuous interior, or closed where its mirrored doors would give a sense of depth to the rest of the room. Provenance: A Danish private collection.
Condition report available on request.