Chest on a stand; England, c. 1690.

Chest on a stand; England, c. 1690.
Black-lacquered oak.
It shows signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 136 x 112 x 63 cm.
The combination of black lacquer and Oriental-inspired gilded ornamentation gives this English chest-on-stand a distinctly decorative character, reflective of the fascination that Chinese and Japanese lacquers sparked in Europe in the late 17th century. Its fronts display a rich repertoire of Chinese-style scenes featuring figures, birds, animals, pavilions, and exotic landscapes, painted in golden tones on a glossy black background, creating attractive chromatic hallmarks and a composition of great visual richness.
This technique, known as japanning, emerged as a European alternative to the prized Oriental lacquers imported through trading companies. In England, it became widely popular during the William and Mary period, aided by the 1688 publication of John Stalker and George Parker’s treatise, *A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing*, which helped spread knowledge of its techniques and ornamental motifs. The Asian-inspired scenes were reinterpreted in accordance with Western tastes, incorporating architecture, figures, and natural elements into fantastical compositions.
The piece features a structure consisting of two distinct sections: an upper section with three small drawers at the top and three larger drawers below, set atop a lower base with three front drawers. Notable features include the scalloped apron, the turned legs with bulbous finials, and the architectural arrangement of the volumes—characteristics associated with English furniture of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.