Important Japonesque Carved Wood Display Cabinet

Important Japonesque Display Cabinet in Carved Wood

Far Eastern Work, late 19th century – Japonisme period



A spectacular Asian-inspired display cabinet, richly carved in an exotic wood with a fine brown patina.

This exceptional piece bears witness to the fascination with the Far East that profoundly shaped European decorative arts in the late 19th century.

The overall architectural form evokes an Asian pavilion, with a tall openwork pagoda crowned by layered overhanging rooflines and surmounted by a fantastical creature.

The piece is abundantly decorated with high-relief carvings depicting imperial dragons, stylised foliage, bunches of grapes, birds and symbolic motifs drawn from Chinese iconography.

The upper section features a glazed vitrine intended for the display of precious objects, while the middle section combines a dragon-carved door with an open compartment.

An openwork side shelf and a lower tier complete this particularly elaborate composition.

By virtue of its quality of execution, its imposing scale and the richness of its ornament, this cabinet represents a spectacular decorative piece suited to a prestigious interior, a cabinet of curiosities, or a collection devoted to Japonisme and the arts of the Far East.

Condition

Good overall state of preservation.

Some wear and minor restorations consistent with age and use.

Original period glazing present.

Structure sound and stable.

Period

Late 19th century, circa 1880–1900.

Style

Japonisme – Chinoiserie – Far Eastern.

Dimensions
Height: 226 cm
Width: 100 cm
Depth: 52 cm