Untitled

Unknown

16th century · Gold maki-e on black lacquer, inlaid with mother-of-pearl; silver mounts · Asian Art

This cabinet belongs to a category of goods known as nanban (literally, "southern barbarians"), which were produced in Japan in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries for trade with Portugal and other European countries. The form of the cabinet derives from writing chests used in Portugal and Spain. Comparable works, made with wood, lacquer, mother-of-pearl, and ivory, were produced in India for the same markets. The leaves and flowers and the geometric borders seen here are not found on contemporaneous works made for use in Japan. It is possible that they demonstrate an awareness of Indian designs transmitted via such trade goods as lacquers and textiles.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th century

Medium

Gold maki-e on black lacquer, inlaid with mother-of-pearl; silver mounts

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015