An Early 20thC Chinoiserie Lacquer Decorated & Painted Kneehole Desk c.1900-10

Origin: English
Period: Edwardian
Provenance: The Estate of Mrs Valerie Lilleywhite
Date: c.1900-10
Height: 29.25”
Width: 49”
Depth: 22” (all at top)

The very pretty Chinoiserie lacquered and gold painted desk, decorated all-over in low relief with typical chinoiserie scenes, each panel being black bordered, with three drawers above two pedestal doors to each flank, the whole raised on black painted bun turned feet, surviving from the zeniths of the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries.

The condition of the desk is un-restored and very much of the country house, i.e. lived in but thoroughly evocative of its story so far. There is a very well-established patination and craquelure to the lacquer, with the top with what appears to be a cigar burn to one side and other small losses as photographed. She is structurally stable and her drawers move freely. Some of the handles are later replacements but blend in well.

The fine art of chinoiserie has been in existence since the 17th century, and it depicts Chinese style designs applied to furniture, ceramics and fabrics. Chinoiserie is wonderfully beautiful, and tends to depict realistic and fictitious animals, insects, people, foliage, structures and various other elaborate Asian designs that can be incorporated into a number of decorating themes. Antique pieces embellished with Asian-style chinoiserie and high-quality japanning are coated with baked-on layers that look very much like modern-day high-gloss enamel. Chinoiserie that has been japanned is coated with many layers of resin-based gloss and baked dry. Much polishing goes into the true technique of japanning, and high-quality pieces will appear to have deep layers of gloss with the sheen of fine marble, but true antique pieces like this will show signs of age and wear.

A hugely original piece, rarely seen in this colour, and eminently useable.