Lacquer in the Royal Collection
Exquisite examples of Japanese, Chinese and Indian lacquer
Pair of mounted bowls
late 17th to early 18th century, mounts: late 18th centuryRCIN 3154
Marie-Antoinette had a remarkable collection of lacquer, including this bowl, which combines Japanese lacquer and French mounts of equally high quality. The bowl was made by building up numerous thin layers of lacquer on a thin wooden base and includes decorations against a granular gold (nashiji) ground. The mounts combine European motifs like Bacchus with oriental artistic motifs such as overlapping clouds at the base of the handles.
Lacquer objects of this quality were not made for the export market and this may have reached the West by means of private trading by officers of various East India companies. After Marie-Antoinette's execution, her collection passed to the state and this bowl was acquired by George IV for the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.