CHAPTER 8: JAPANNED WOOD

Figure 8.1: Japanned wood chest, c. 1755. Black japanned ground on pine carcass; raised gilt Chinese-style decoration of pagodas in landscapes on front and lid; similar gilt designs (not raised) on sides; gilt motif (not raised) reminiscent of Japanese mon on rear; decorative oriental gilt border on lower edge of lid; brass handle with traces of original gilding; underside of lid with gold-speckled black japanned decoration (simulated nashiji lacquer); interior previously with three compartments (canisters missing). Height 13 cm (5 ⅛ in); width 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in); depth 13 cm (5 1/8 in). Patrick Jefferson Ltd, London 

​

Figure 8.2: Japanned wood caddy, c. 1820. Black japanned ground on pine carcass; partially-raised polychrome and gilt decoration on front and lid with Chinese figures, flowers, foliage and butterflies; gilt floral sprays (not raised) on sides and rear; brass hinges, lock and ball feet; base covered with discoloured cream paper; underside of lid lined with glazed red paper; interior with two compartments; inner lids (probably replacements) with gilt floral sprays on a black ground and small brass knobs. Height 15.9 cm (6 ¼ in); width 19.4 cm (7 ⅝ in); depth 11.8 cm (4 ⅝ in). Private collection 

​

Figure 8.10: Japanned wood chest, c. 1765-70. White japanned ground (now yellowed) on wooden carcass with découpage decoration; front with raised gilt floral borders framing Chinese-inspired river scene taken from Jean Pillement’s design in Plate 46 of The Ladies Amusement (see Figure 8.11); lid with similarly-bordered depictions of equestrian statue and classical ruins; sides with birds in foliage; gilt-brass handle; shallow square pad feet (probably later); interior with three glass canisters with shallow-cut sloping shoulders and silver cap lids. Measurements not known. © Christies Images Ltd  

​

Figure 8.12: Japanned wood chest, c. 1755. Black japanned ground on wooden carcass; raised gilt Chinese-style decoration of rocky landscapes on front and lid; gilt rope-twist borders; gilt decoration (not raised) on rear and sides, the latter picked out in red; gilt-brass drop-loop handle; brass hinges; base stained black; underside of lid and three interior compartments (canisters missing) with gold-speckled black japanned decoration (simulated nashiji lacquer). Height 13.5 cm (5 3/8 in); width 22.9 cm (9 in); depth 12.7 cm (4 7/8 in). Private collection  

​

Figure 8.13: Japanned wood chest, c. 1765. Black japanned ground on wooden carcass; raised gilt Chinese-style decoration of pagodas in rock-strewn landscapes on front and lid; gilt decoration (not raised) of flowers and foliage on sides and rear; brass handle; interior lined throughout with dark green velvet, trimmed with silver braid on underside of lid; three interior compartments fitted with a set of Old Sheffield plate canisters, two (with tinned interiors) for tea, and one larger one (with plated interior) for sugar. Height 21.5 cm (8 ½ in). The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham  

​

Figure 8.14: Japanned wood caddy, c. 1770-80. Reddish-brown japanned ground with gold-speckled simulated nashiji finish on pine carcass (including the base); delicate gilt Chinese-style decoration of pavilions and trees on front, pagodas on lid, and floral sprays on sides; lower part of lid decorated with gilt insects and moths; rear undecorated; brass drop-loop handle and hinges; underside of lid partly painted red with (later) panel of velvet; two interior compartments with wooden lids backed with paper, and with small brass ring handles; compartments lined with lead. Height 11.8 cm (4 ⅝ in); width 13.3 cm (5 ¼ in); depth 10.2 cm (4 in). Private collection 

​

Figure 8.15: Japanned wood caddy, c. 1790. Black japanned ground on pine carcass; raised, predominantly gilt, chinoiserie decoration; brass drop-loop handle; interior with two lidded compartments. Height 14.9 cm (5 ⅞ in); width 17.5 cm (6 ⅞ in). The late collection of Robert Harman Cannell. Private collection 

​

Figure 8.16: Japanned wood caddy, c. 1780-1800. Black japanned ground on pine carcass; polychrome decoration on external surfaces, showing figures in exotic costumes; brass drop-loop handle; base covered with original baize; interior lined with later paper; very thin veneer on inner rims, possibly olive wood; inner lid missing. Height 18 cm (7 1/8 in); width 13 cm (5 1/8 in); depth 13 cm (5 1/8 in). Private collection  

​

Figure 8.18: Chinese lacquer chest, c. 1770. Black lacquered ground on wooden carcass; raised gilt landscape decoration on all sides; base plain black lacquer; underside of lid and interior compartments finished with plain black lacquer; two incised metal canisters with cap lids. While the exterior of the chest has dulled with age, the underside of the lid has retained the characteristic high gloss of oriental lacquer. Height 10.6 cm (4 ¼ in); width 20.7 cm (8 1/8 in); depth 13.3 cm (5 ¼ in). Museum of London  

​

Figure 8.19: Japanned wood caddy, c. 1820. Black japanned ground on pine carcass; partially-raised polychrome and gilt decoration on front and lid with Chinese figures, flowers, and foliage; front with distinctive border on milk-chocolate brown ground; delicate gilt floral border around lid; gilt floral decoration (not raised) on sides and rear; ends with rope-twist brass ring handles on pressed brass backplates featuring two cornucopiae; pressed brass lion-paw feet; brass lock; silvered hinges; underside of lid lined with ruched red velvet; interior with two compartments with inner lids with gilt floral sprays on a black ground and turned bone knobs. Height 16.2 cm (6 ⅜ in); width 18.7 cm (7 ⅜ in); depth 11.1 cm (4 ⅜ in). Private collection  

​

Figure 8.20: Japanned wood chest, c. 1820-30. Black japanned ground on wooden carcass; partially-raised polychrome and gilt chinoiserie decoration on front and lid; gilt floral border interspersed with ovals containing polychrome flowers around lid; gilt floral decoration (not raised) on sides and rear; ends with brass ring handles on pressed brass foliate backplates; pressed brass lion-paw feet; silvered hinges; original green baize on base; underside of lid japanned black with gilt floral sprays; interior lined with dark green velvet; three compartments containing two wooden canisters with hinged lids, decorated overall with gilt floral sprays, and central glass sugar basin (replacement). Height 19.7 cm (7 ¾ in); width 31.4 cm (12 3/8 in); depth 16.2 cm (6 3/8 in). Witney Antiques, Witney

Figure 8.21: Japanned wood caddy, c. 1820. White japanned ground (now yellowed) on sycamore carcass; polychrome and gilt decoration of Chinese figures, pavilions and flowers; ends with ring handles on pressed brass lion-mask backplates; brass ball feet; brass lock; silvered hinges; underside of lid lined with faded red velvet; interior with two compartments with inner lids with floral sprays on a white ground and turned bone knobs. Height 16.5 cm (6 ½ in); width 19.0 cm (7 ½ in); depth 11.4 cm (4 ½ in). Mark Goodger Antiques, Northamptonshire 

​

Figure 8.22: Chinese lacquer chest, c. 1845. Black lacquered ground on wooden carcass; gilt decoration on all sides with central cartouches containing figures and buildings; carved wood dragon feet; underside of lid and interior compartments finished in plain black lacquer; two incised canisters, probably made of so-called ‘canister metal’ (a zinc-lead alloy), each with a cap lid over an inner concave lid fitted with a bone knob. Height 14 cm (5 ½ in); width 22.9 cm (9 in); depth 15.2 cm (6 in). Mark Goodger Antiques, Northamptonshire  

​

Figure 8.23: Matched pair of painted whitewood caddies, c. 1800. Each with painted floral decoration on sycamore carcass and the same hand-coloured paper medallion on lid, showing a woman painting (possibly a Muse); single silvered hinge and brass lock; original baize on base; underside of lid lined with tinfoil. Height 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); width 16.2 cm (6 3/8 in); depth 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in). Witney Antiques, Witney

Figures 8.24: Three painted whitewood caddies, c. 1790. Ground painted to simulate wood (probably harewood); all three with sides and lids variously decorated with sprays or vases of flowers and berries; one also with neoclassical urn-shaped motifs; silvered hinges and locks; bases covered with baize; single interior compartments lined with tin-foil (loose inner lids missing). Height (of each) 11.5 cm (4 ½ in); 15 cm (5 7/8 in). Private collection 

​

Figure 8.25: Painted satinwood caddy, c. 1790. Satinwood veneered on pine carcass; ebony stringing; painted foliate bands around base and lid; three hand-coloured neoclassical paper medallions, each set within a painted frame and showing Grecian-style women, probably representing three of the seven Virtues; silver drop-loop handle on silver backplate with ring of cut-steel studs around its edge; single hinge; base covered with baize; underside of lid lined with tinfoil; two interior compartments with veneered lids with bone knobs. Height 13 cm (5 1/8 in); width 20.3 cm (8 in); depth 11.8 cm (6 1/3 in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 

​

Figure 8.26: Painted mahogany and satinwood caddy, c. 1790. Mahogany and satinwood veneered on pine carcass; ebony corners, borders and stringing; painted ovals of landscape scenes on top and sides; brass hinges; base covered with baize; underside of main lid painted with flowers; interior with two compartments with lift-off lids simulating canisters painted with scrolls and flowers. Height 12.7 cm (5 in); width 19 cm (7 ½ in); depth 11.5 cm (4 ½ in). Witney Antiques, Witney 

​

Figure 8.27: Painted satinwood chest, c. 1800. Satinwood veneered on pine carcass; painted borders and swag floral decoration probably added later, c. 1900; Old Sheffield plate ring handle; base covered with baize (replacement); brass hinges and lock; three interior compartments containing two wooden canisters with satinwood-veneered hinged lids decorated with paper medallions (probably later), and central well for glass sugar basin (missing). Height 16.9 cm (6 ¾ in); width 29 cm (11 ½ in); depth 14 cm (5 5/8 in). Private collection  

​

Figure 8.28: Painted caddy, c. 1780, possibly by George Brookshaw. Purplish-grey painted ground on whitewood carcass; front and rear with finely painted decoration of flowers, including peonies, carnations, auriculas and stephanotis; central grisaille ovals, on front depicting a basket of flowers, and on rear a vase of flowers; to the sides, a bracket with drapery, supporting an urn containing an agave plant; floral garland on lid; edge of lid with peacock feathers; silver drop-loop handle with silver backplate with beaded edge; single interior compartment with plain inner lid with ivory knob. Height 13.8 cm (5 3/8 in); width 18.5 cm (7 ¼ in); depth 10.6 cm (4 1/8 in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London  

​

Figure 8.29: Painted caddy with découpage decoration, c. 1790. White painted ground on sycamore carcass; central panel(s) painted with neoclassical floral swags; remaining panels with découpage sprays of gilt flowers; paper borders with gilt neoclassical swags on dark blue ground; hand-coloured print on lid, showing children playing; silvered hinges; underside of lid covered with tinfoil (replacement); mahogany inner lid with small brass knob (replacement). Height 11.7 cm (4 5/8 in); width 15 cm (6 in); depth 9 cm (3 ½ in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London