Lacquered chest. Japan, Edo period (1603–1868)

Lacquered chest. Japan, Edo period (1603–1868).
Gold-lacquered decoration in the form of leaf tendrils. The chest is adorned with openwork metalwork and ornamental engravings at the corners and around the lock.
Restored.
Measurements: 40 x 63 x 42 cm.

Japanese chest made during the Edo period, one of the periods of greatest development and sophistication in the art of lacquerwork in Japan. Against the deep black background unfolds a delicate golden ornamentation of plant tendrils, leaves, and floral motifs, arranged with a marked sense of rhythm and enriched by large plant emblems inscribed in circular medallions. The decoration draws on the maki-e tradition, a characteristic technique of Japanese lacquerwork in which metallic powder—especially gold—is used to create designs on the lacquered surface. Also noteworthy is the elaborate metalwork, found on the corners, edges, and lock, profusely engraved with ornamental motifs and designed not only as structural reinforcement but also as an essential part of the decorative scheme. The combination of the lacquer’s deep black with golden highlights lends the piece a sumptuousness characteristic of objects intended for prestigious interiors.

Lacquerwork attained exceptional importance during the Edo period (1603–1868), when Japan experienced a prolonged period of political and economic stability that fostered the extraordinary development of the decorative arts. Lacquered objects, especially those made using techniques such as maki-e—which involved applying gold or silver powder over successive layers of lacquer—became true symbols of prestige, wealth, and refinement among the aristocracy, the daimyō, and the urban elites. Chests, boxes, writing desks, trays, and personal items combined practical function with a sophisticated artistic dimension, featuring plant motifs, landscapes, and family emblems or mon. Their importance also extended beyond Japan’s borders: lacquerware was highly prized in Europe and constituted one of the luxury goods associated with trade with Japan, exerting a notable influence on European tastes in Japonism and the arts of the East.