Search Collections

Japanese Nanban Lacquer Coffer

A Japanese Nanban Lacquer Coffer with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, unusually large, in rectangular form. Domed lid, decorated with gold maki-e and mother-of-pearl (raden) inlay depicting flowering branches and scrolling foliage against a black lacquer ground. The iridescent shell inlays are arranged among finely detailed floral motifs, complemented by decorative metal hardware. The interior of the lid is further embellished with a delicate design of trailing vines and foliage, an especially charming detail.

Nanban lacquerware developed during the late 16th and early 17th centuries for the European export market, particularly Portuguese and later Dutch traders. Combining traditional Japanese lacquer techniques with Western-inspired forms, these distinctive coffers were prized for their elaborate decoration and craftsmanship. Notable examples of Nanban lacquer coffers can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Kyoto National Museum; the British Museum, London; and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.