Coffer in Nanban (Southern Barbarian) Style
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Black lacquer on wood with gold painted design
Dimensions
H. 24 13/16 in. (63 cm); W. 52 3/16 in. (132.6 cm); D. 23 7/16 in. (59.5 cm)
Classification
Furniture
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norton W. Mailman, 1991
Accession Number
1991.408
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of Edo-period Japan with this magnificent *Coffer in Nanban (Southern Barb) Style*, crafted by an unknown artist in the18th century. Measuring an impressive 24⅞ × 52¼ × 23½ inches, this wooden chest is adorned in lustrous black lacquer with intricate gold-painted designs featuring roosters and trees As a piece of furniture from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection—generously gifted by Mr. and Mrs. W. Mailman in 1991—it exemplifies the grandeur of storage coffers used for valuables like clothing or treasures. The Nanban style draws from Japan's earl...