AN IMPRESSIVE JAPANESE RED AND GOLD LACQUER CYLINDER DESK

AN IMPRESSIVE JAPANESE RED AND GOLD LACQUER CYLINDER DESK
MEIJI ERA, 19TH/20TH CENTURY

Richly decorated in mother of pearl inlays, gold and iroe hiramaki-e lacquer, painted with many view of shrines including the Nikkō Tōshō-gū, birds, paulownia and hollyhock mon, blossoming prunus trees and figures, all framed by borders of key fret and other geometrical designs; made of various stackable parts, raised on two sections with front doors each opening to reveal three drawers to the front and a cupboard to the back; the cylinder roll top enclosing two hinged doors, a set of sliding doors and a drawer containing a writing slope set in purple velvet; the superstructure reminiscent of a traditional Japanese shrine, with further doors, drawers, and a central set of hinged doors opening to reveal two small drawers and an empty space above, decorated at the back with a Japanese scroll painting with a writhing dragon, signed; 171cm x 106cm x 69cm.

Provenance: the Tomkinson Family Collection; purchased from David D. Dickinson, 14th February 1995; a copy of the original invoice is available.