Landscapes in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e on the black lacquer ground, decorate the top panel, the sides of the cabinet, the front and reverse of the doors and the front of the ten interior drawers.
Unusually, a pair of mandarin ducks and some butterflies in flight are the only forms of fauna to appear in the decoration.
The cabinet has very fine engraved gilt-metal strap hinges, corner mounts and escutcheon plate and is on a contemporary English carved gilt-wood stand.
The cabinet 91.5cm wide, 69cm high, 53cm deep. The stand 102 cm wide, 75cm high, 54cm deep.
It is possibly the cabinet listed in the 1688 Burghley Inventory: ‘The Lower Gallery rooms…6th Roome…1 Right Indian Jappan Cabinett, with Guilt fframe.’
The 1738 Burghley Inventory records: ‘Lady Exeter’s Dressing Room…A fine old Japan Cabinet, the Frame carved and gilt.’
Exhibited: ‘Export Lacquer: Reflection of the West in Black & Gold Makie.’ 2008, Kyoto Museum & Suntory Museum, Tokyo, Cat. No.83.
