Page 115 - Sotheby's London Fine Japanese Art Nov. 2019

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A LACQUER CHEST FOR THE objects. Namban lacquerwares are related to For a larger example in the Kyoto National
PORTUGUESE MARKET Kodaiji lacquer, a type of lacquerware made Museum, go to: http://bunka.nii.ac.jp/
in Kyoto during the late Momoyama and SearchDetail.do?heritageId=97569#
MOMOYAMA PERIOD, LATE 16 TH
CENTURY early Edo periods, which is characterised by For similar examples, see Fundação Oriente,
designs in gold hiramaki-e on a black ground. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Arte Namban:
the rectangular chest with hinged domed Western missionaries and merchants had os portugueses no Japão, (Lisboa, 1990),
cover, with a panel depicting a monkey opportunities to see Kodaiji lacquerwares p. 100. For more about lacquer caskets
beside gourd vine decorated in gold and ordered the workshops to make the commissioned by Europeans, visit the British
hiramaki-e and inlaid in mother-of-pearl objects for them using the same design Museum website: http:/www.britishmuseum.
against a black ground, the front panel with and techniques. Namban pieces, however, org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/
birds in branches, all bordered by hanabishi generally employ dazzling shell inlay, which is asia/t/travelling_chest_kamaboko-bak.aspx
and cut mother-of-pearl with finely engraved never found on Kodaiji works.
copper gilt fittings For more information on Namban £ 15,000-20,000
46 cm., 18 in. long lacquerware, see James C.Y. Watt and € 16,900-22,500 US$ 18,700-24,900
The Europeans began to arrive in Japan from Barbara B. Ford, East Asian Lacquer: The
the late 16th century for trade and Christian Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, (New
missions. To furnish the Christian churches in York, 1991), p. 169-173; and for Namban
Japan and also for export, Japanese lacquer chests and coffers, see Oliver Impey and
workers produced a variety of decorative Christiaan J. A. Jörg, Japanese Export Lacquer
lacquer chests, coffers, boxes and other 1580 – 1850, (Amsterdam, 2005), p. 147-158.
furniture, as well as ceremonial religious

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