Large Edo Cabinet With Its 18th Century Baroque Base

18th century work. 

Edo cabinet in black lacquered wood from Japan with Japanese decoration in relief of lake landscapes, architecture and still life, resting on an original baroque base in gilded wood. 


This large cabinet opens on the front with two doors, revealing ten drawers, including a large one in the upper part and two squares with individual gilded bronze locks in the lower part. They are all decorated with landscapes of flowery hills, separated by gilded wooden crosspieces and each consist of gilded bronze handles ending in rosettes. The two interior locks are decorated with a chiseled and engraved wreath of flowers.

The interior of the doors presents, on either side, a bouquet of flowers in a vase with handles.
Outside the gates is a lake landscape with traditional Japanese houses surrounded by trees, rocks, flowers, butterflies and birds.

Falls of the frame and falls and joints of the doors, in gilded bronze decorated with chiseled and engraved foliage. 
The central lock has a decoration comparable to the lake scenes of the main doors, depicting a traditional raised house on the left surrounded by hills and a rising tree and on the right sheaves of flowers and flying birds. 

Two gilded bronze handles on either side of the cabinet ending in stylized flowers engraved in gilded bronze.



This cabinet rests on a period baroque base in gilded wood, extensively carved and openwork with flowers, rosettes and scrolls. The scrolls of acanthus leaves intertwine to form a flowery mass up to the ends of the moving legs giving a curved effect. The uprights support a belt with ornamental decoration of stylized heart stripes on which the cabinet rests.


This piece of furniture is a striking example of the 18th century European taste for Japanese art. The contrast is striking between the refined sobriety of the black lacquer and fine Japanese details, with the flash and sculptural opulence of the golden baroque base. This creates a balanced harmony symbolizing both the exoticism of the Orient and European luxury.

This type of Edo cabinet was manufactured in Japan for export to Europe, the base was made in Europe once the cabinet was imported. This base is therefore original; it was made in France, England or Italy at the same time. However, being a piece of furniture with two bodies, the base was often replaced later, so it is precious to find a cabinet from the Edo period with its real base from the 18th century. Here, we clearly find the Japanese beauty so appreciated by the European aristocracy and highlighted by French wealth. 
 

Beautiful work from the 18th century. 
Restoration of use and maintenance.

Dimensions with base at furthest point: H 157 cm x W 109 cm x D 62 cm
Cabinet dimensions: H 72 x W 91 x D 52