Monday 25 September 2023

A Japanese Namban Laquered Casket


An Early / Mid 17th Century  Japanese Namban, Laquered Casket.

also Three Miniature Lacquer Caskets in the Rijksmuseum by Willem Kick.

Included here for comparison with 17th/18th Century Filigree Caskets.

Namban translates roughly as Southern Barbarians.

possibly by the Kichibei Studio.

Japan, 1630-1640.

For an excellent overview of  Japanese Lacquer and trade with the West 1580 - 1644 see

 

The lacquer has been applied over a wooden core of sugi wood (Cryptomeria japonica) and is finished in both black lacquer surfaces and areas sprinkled with gold flakes known as nashiji. Each individual facet of both the casket and the lid is further embellished with drawings in low relief hira-maki-e, surrounded by silver cartouches and a frame of geometric banding in gold and red lacquer.

Wood (sugi), Asian Vernicifluüm lacquer, gold- and silver-powder, inlays in gold, silver, tin, coral and jade, solid silver and brass fittings.




H. 20.3 x W. 25.4 x 19 cms.


https://www.zebregsroell.com/sd/japanese-namban-jewellery-casket
















This little casket is published here because of its close relationship in form and size with Dutch Filigree caskets (kist) of the mid 17th century.

Note the sliding top.

Coincidence possibly!

was this object made for Europeans for export?

If not a coincidence the question arises which civilisation influenced which!



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I have already published at some length on these caskets

see - https://antiqueeuropeanfiligree.blogspot.com/2023/01/spectacular-and-large-silver-gilt.html




Height 16.5, Width 18cms.

Another earlier casket which has later been adapted as tea caddy.

The inner caddy with the mark of London Maker James Perry 1780 - 81.


Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

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The Metropolitan Museum Filigree Casket.

Described by the Met as from Goa.

The oft suggested attribution of these objects to Goa I believe is entirely erroneous. Hugo Miguel Crespo of the University of Lisbon has researched and written at some length on the subject and can find no evidence of filigree manufacture in Goa!




Dimensions: H. 5. 1/8 in. (13 cm) W. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm) D. 3 9/16 in. (9 cm).


https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/646829

Purchased by the Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2014.

I have already written at some length on the subject of these caskets

It is my firm contention that these caskets are European - almost certainly Dutch.







Photograph above from dealer Alex Renard.


This object was previously with Messrs Zebregs Roell and prior to that with dealer Alex Renard in Paris.


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Note the Ball feet as in the Khalili Casket.

H. 10.5 x W. 11.8 x D. 8.7 cms.

with Dutch dealers Zebregs Roell in 2016.

 https://www.zebregsroell.com/dutch-colonial-filigree-sarcophagus

 I am very grateful to the excellent dutch dealers Zebregs Roell for permission to use their photographs.

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Dutch Museums Silver Filigree Casket.

17th century.

with jewelled? additions.





I would dearly like to see this casket gently cleaned and polished.

13.5 x 13.5 x 10.2 cms.


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The Middleburg Town Hall Casket.



One of two filigree caskets which have perhaps been converted into tea caddies by Hendrik Boshart of Middleburg, Holland.

In the Middleburg town hall collection. Middleburg, Netherlands.

 Again note the silver filigree ball feet.

Size 12.5 x 10.5 x 13.5 cms.


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The Khalili Silver Gilt Cabinet


57 x 40 x 32 cms.

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Metropolitan Museum Filigree Casket 2.

Another casket described as Goan.

I believe this casket is 17th century Dutch.




Width 12.4 cms

On loan to the Met. from The Hispanic Society of America, New York, NY.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/650301?ft=*&pos=219&nextInternalLocale=en&oid=650301&rpp=20&exhibitionId=%7B8951577E-FB8D-4B46-92DE-C4F08364DF96%7D&pg=1

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The Dresden Green Room Casket.

also see my post.

https://antiqueeuropeanfiligree.blogspot.com/2023/01/17-th-century-silver-filigree-casket-in.html








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Three Miniature Lacquer Caskets in the Rijksmuseum by Willem Kick (1579 - 1647).

see

 - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333484248_Gelact_ende_verguld_New_Discoveries_from_Willem_Kick's_Workshop_in_Amsterdam

Illustrated here to show the similarities in form of Dutch and Japanese caskets.



Height 12 cm × width 15.4 cm × depth 11.95 cm








height 21.9 cm × width 25.4 cm × depth 17.9 cm.



https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/my/collections/2649216--ayeen/imitated-lacquered-furniture-17th-c/objecten#/BK-KOG-1364,1





Height 19.5 cm × width 20.6 cm × depth 15.2 cm.

https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search/objects?p=1&ps=12&involvedMaker=Willem+Kick&st=Objects&ii=1#/BK-NM-5267,1

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Again probably coincidental but published out of devilment

I love these objects.

17th Century Namban Casket.

Previously with Mayflower Antiques.




















9 x 6 x 5 inches

https://mayflower-antiques.co.uk/product/antique-japanese-namban-casket/


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Bukowskis Namban Chest.
























https://www.bukowskis.com/en/auctions/645/971-a-japanese-lacquer-casket-namban-chest-commissioned-by-the-portuguese-edo-period-1603-1868

Measurement 17.5x11x10 cms


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