Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Bar or Drinks Cabinet with Hand-Painted Chinese Decoration

About this Piece

A finely hand painted and black lacquered cabinet on stand. The cabinet with Chinoiserie hand painted decoration a Chinese landscape framed by a flame Mahogany and Movingue border, with fine repousse chased brass mounts, on a base with chamfered legs and fretwork spandrels hand painted in floral and lattice decoration. The LED lit interior fitted as a bar with a mirror back and adjustable glass shelf. 

Inspired by an original cabinet in the Long Gallery at Althorp. Chinosierie decoration and panels had been imported as decorative elements to Europe from the 17th century and panel were often incorporated into cabinets, or small cabinets given more opulence and status by raising them on newly made bases. One cabinetmaker who was well known for using and adapting these original Japanese and Chinese cabinets was James Moore (1760-1726) who has a known association with the Spencers and Sarah, 1st Duchess of Marlborough (1660-1744), for whom he supplied furniture at Blenheim.