A Queen Anne scarlet, silvered and gilt japanned bureau cabinet circa 1710

the double arched moulded cornice surmounted by three spherical finials and above two arched mirrored doors enclosing an arrangement of drawers, pigeonholes and adjustable shelves, the lower section with a fall front revealing concave-faced drawers, pigeonholes and a well, some redecoration

Frank Partridge & Sons, Ltd., invoice 28th February 1939, £1062 10s~.
The Price Collection, Sotheby's, London, 22nd November 2000, lot 135.

Generally in very good restored condition. The finish has areas of retouching and redecoration, consistent with a piece of such great age. The cornice has evidence of worm. The mirrors are slightly distressed, again consistent with the age of the piece. There are cracks to the sides of the bureau section. The fall front, to the right side has an angled section of timber, visible through the japanning, it is hard to ascertain whether this one done at the time of construction or whether this is a localised area of repair. The top is slightly warped. The handles are later, but very good replacements and there is evidence of the former handles to the drawer interiors.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

 

The taste in England for all things `Indian', that is, Chinese,
became firmly established after the restoration of the
monarchy in the 1660's, and was initially supplied by
Portuguese traders who held a virtual monopoly of trade
with China until the end of the 17th century.

The principle articles of the luxury trade were silks,
porcelains and lacquered ware that included cabinets,
coffers and screens.

Much of the Chinese cabinet work was deemed to be inferior to the work of English cabinet-makers. Such was the demand however for lacquer that the supply exceeded the demand and the London `joyners`, were able to profit from this producing fine quality pieces that were decorated to simulate oriental lacquer.

The methods used by the English proponents of the art of japanning as this technique was known, were fully explained in a book published in 1688 by JohnStalker and George Parker entitled A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing Being a compleat Discovery of
those Arts with the best way of making all sorts of Varnish
for Japan Wood...The Method of Gilding, Burnishing,
and Lackering....' The volume also included 'Above an
Hundred distinct Patterns for Japan-work in Imitation of
the Indians, for Tables, Stands, Frames,
Cabinets,Boxes,&c.' The origins of Stalker and Parker are
unclear, although the former's address at the 'Golden Ball
in St James's Market, London' indicates that he was a
tradesman. The publication is obviously directed to both
the professional and the amateur, the 'recipes' being
extremely clear in their direction, although the fascinating
series of plates illustrating Oriental scenes, pursuits,
flowers, trees, birds, animals and butterflies are very
similar to the decoration on contemporary cabinet-work,
but strangely no direct copies have ever been found.
The differences between Oriental, both Chinese and
Japanese, and English work is seen in these designs. The
decoration of the former is well mannered, in scale, and
with reasonable perspective. English work is far more
exuberant and 'colourful' in style - birds and butterflies
become larger than people and buildings, and flowering
trees and plants from the effect of a fantasy jungle,again
totally out of scale with any other elements of the design.

The present cabinet, with its lavishly decorated surfaces
ornamented with Oriental scenes and figures in gold on a
rich red ground continues in this tradition, although it is
dated some twenty years after Stalker and Parker's
publication. They give specific directions To make Red-
Japan', stating that there are three varieties, '1. The
common usual Red; 2.The deep, dark,; and lastly, the
light, pale Red.' Owing to the natural fading of the
original pigments, it is probable that the original colour
was one of the first two.

A number of leading English cabinet-makers of the late
17th and early 18th century are recorded as supplying
cabinet pieces decorated with japanning, which remained
fashionable in various guises throughout the 18th century.
Amongst these were Gerrit Jensen (1680-d. 1715), who
was possibly of Dutch or Flemish origin. He was
appointed Cabinet Maker in ordinary to William and
Mary in 1689 and had a number of important aristocratic
clients connected to the Court. These included the 1st
Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, for whom he supplied
'glass for the door of the great chamber and for japanning
the closet' the latter being incised or bantam work, and
the 5th Earl of Salisbury, Hatfield House, to whom he
supplied a mirror in a Japan frame 'with a folding table
underneath which is also in Japan' Other makers
recorded include Elizabeth Harrison of London who
supplied a 'Japan Cabinet & a black carved fraime'
costing l_52.in 1695 for Petworth House, and in 1704 a
'Jappan scrutoire' for Lord Bristol at a cost of L50; James
Moore (c. 1670-d. 1726) whose account for 'Works done
for her Grace ye Dutches of Buccllough' includes 'a Buro
made of Japan & Locks', and John Gumley (1691-1727)
who supplied Paul Foley in 1726 with amongst other items
'A neet Swinging Glass in a blue Japand frame Ll.4s'
Slightly later makers include John Belchier (1717-d. 1753)
whose label appears on a red japanned cabinet with a
more architectural profile than the present piece, and
Giles Grendey (1693-1780), who had a thriving export
trade to the Iberian peninsular in the 1730's and 1740's of
red japanned furniture, including chairs and cabinet
pieces. At this period this style of decoration had
temporarily fallen out of favour in England.
Unfortunately, although there are a number of surviving
cabinets of the present form, there are no provenanced
examples which could possibly point to a particular maker.