JAPANESE BOX
Made for the Dutch market, circa 1780
Black lacquer and gold decoration on copper
4 1/4 x 3 1/8 inches, oval

BJECTS decorated in this manner were made in Japan for the Dutch market during the last quarter of the eighteenth century (the Dutch being the only Europeans allowed direct access to Japanese manufactures at the time).

The recognition that objects incorporating gold and fine lacquer work of this kind, but influenced by the shapes of Western prototypes, were made in Japan became generally known in relatively recent times (partially through a display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London). In the last decade, they have become increasingly collected and consequently, are quite rare.

Japanese material made for the West is, to our eyes, far more bewitchingly beautiful than that made by the Chinese for that market, and the present object is one of the most exquisite we have seen in many years of assiduous searching.

$4,800

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