Bureau de Dame. China, Canton, ca. 1830

Bureau de Dame. China, Canton, ca.1830.
In lacquered and gilt wood.
Bone handles.
Measurements: 180 x 68 x 69 cm.
Chinese furniture destined for export, characterised by the adaptation of Cantonese cabinetmaking to European tastes. In this case, the bureau de dame is completely worked with compositions in gilded and lacquered wood: from the upper medallion crowning the top, with a representation of a traditional scene, the two Chinese landscapes in oval format decorating the doors, the splendid architectural representation based on pagodas and traditional houses, in the interior. These figurative scenes are in turn inscribed in compositions with a dense proliferation of plants that also cover the sides and legs. The furniture has a light, streamlined design, starting with carved, slightly arched legs that support the desk with a hinged top. The desk conceals drawers and compartments inside. The handles are made of bone. The overall impression is one of great refinement, characteristic of early 19th-century Cantonese craftsmanship.