Cabinet

Lacquered furniture was made in Japan and China for export to the western Europe market. The sap of the lacquer tree was applied to the wood giving it an attractive and hard wearing finish. Lacquered goods were considered exotic by western Europeans and became hugely popular imports in the seventeenth century. As demand grew, domestically manufactured 'Japanned' furniture came onto the market but European imitations were not as durable as the authentic Japanese products.

This cabinet was probably made in Japan, but is not of the finest quality. The birds and autumnal flora are common motifs found on this type of furniture, but some of the buildings are not typically Japanese. Cabinets of this variety usually featured metal mounts and, like this one, often had European-made stands. From the early 17th century, the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company) enjoyed a monopoly over trade with Japan. Export products, including lacquered furniture and porcelain, were transported to Deshima, an island off Nagasaki. Deshima was a trading post between the Dutch and feudal Japan under the rule of the Shoguns. Only members of the VOC were permitted to live on the island. Dutch merchant ships would bring orders for mainland factories on Japan and collect shipments for return to Europe. Products were then usually sold at auction and were purchased by London-based wholesalers for retail on the domestic English market. Lacquered goods were also imported to London from China by the English East India Company.