Chest, Koami-werkplaats (attributed to), c. 1635 - c. 1645
wood, lacquer, gold and silver foil, crystal, silver, copper, h c.63.5cm × w c.144.5cm × d c.73cm More details
This unusually fine chest was probably ordered by François Caron in Japan. For whom he ordered it is not known. The chest’s subsequent journey is remarkable. In 1658 it was bought by Cardinal Mazarin, a leading French statesman and collector of exquisite lacquerware in Paris. This illustrates the key role that the northern Netherlands played in disseminating such high quality Asian objects throughout Europe.
