INLAID CABINET ON STAND - The Embden Collection Antwerp, second half of the 17th century and later. Ebony, mahogany, and red-backed tortoiseshell inlaid in geometric reserves lined with filets in bone and mother-of-pearl. The inner panels feature rich inlays with flowers, tendrils, and vases of flowers. Rectangular body on four flattened feet with an architecturally structured front. Central double doors surrounded by twelve drawers, the double-doors divided by three Corinthian half-columns. Opening onto five drawers. Gilt spherical brass handles (probably later) with relief decoration. 2 keys. Partly later stand on four legs connected by an intermediate shelf, partly openworkedly carved, tapering downwards and gilt, decorated with acanthus leaves, flowers, tassels, and with turned feet and feet carved with acanthus leaves, respectively. Cabinet 92 × 39.5 × 60 cm, Stand 100 × 42 × 75 cm. Small cracks and losses to the base. Cabinet with losses to the veneer, restored and with some additions. Legs and feet of the stand are old. Provenance: The Collection of Arlette and Antony Embden, France. The cabinet on offer is distinguished by its ingenious lacquer inlay technique, which is based on Asian lacquer work such as the Japanese “namban” technique from the Momoyama period (1573–1615) (see Monique Riccardi-Cubitt: The Art of The Cabinet. London 1992, pp. 60 & 175, No. 28). The imitation of Asian techniques points to the Antwerp origin of the cabinet. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Flanders experienced its heyday in the production of luxurious decorative objects. The port of Antwerp served as a hub for the import and export of handcrafted products. Lacquered boxes and cabinets imported from Asia, inlaid with rare woods and elaborate mother-of-pearl motifs, were particularly sought after. With the growing demand for such lacquered objects, especially the craftsmen working in Antwerp adopted foreign techniques of lacquer art. That these artists were not mere imitators of oriental lacquer decorations, but produced independent creations, can be seen, among other things, in an Antwerp cabinet on a stand with a matching table from the Victoria & Albert Museum (inv. nos. W.8:1 to 24-1965/W.7:1 to 4-1965). This table is inlaid with rich tendrils and arabesques, just like the cabinet on offer. As is the case for the cabinet on offer, the technique involves filling a carved ebony veneer with a mixture of shellac and various dyes. In certain areas, the soft surface was additionally sprinkled with splinters of colored marble or mother-of-pearl and then polished to imitate the “namban” lacquer made in Japan. Another comparable piece in terms of ornamentation can be found in a stately cabinet in the MOU Museum in Oudenaarde (no inventory no.). * The full tax is charged on this item marked *, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration. For the exportation of this item a CITES license is required. Prospective buyers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. For further information please contact the department.