Chest
Category
Furniture
Date
1600
Materials
Wood, wood veneer, mother of pearl, sharkskin, lacquer, gilt copper, gold and silver powder
Measurements
635 mm (H); 1315 mm (W); 592 mm (D)
Place of origin
Japan
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham (Accredited Museum)
On show at
Not on show
NT 1170737.1
Caption
This shark-skin covered chest opens to reveal a black lacquered interior in-laid with a mother of pearl panther. The chest is thought to have been acquired by Sir Thomas Myddelton I, who made his fortune as a merchant adventurer and was one of the founders of the East India company.
Summary
Chest. Japanese chest, c.1600, with domed lid covered in shagreen with panels of lacquer and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the panels with reserved scenes of animals, fruit, birds, trees, flowers and houses; with ornate gilt copper clasps and lock; on an English stand.
Provenance
Inv. c.1910 (Long Gal); '1 large Trunk with oval top - called King Charles' Box - inlaid with pearl Chinese paintings. Metal fittings. 4ft 3in long x 2ft 2in deep x 2' wide'. Amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust.
Exhibition history
Kizuna Japan Wales Design, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, Cardiff , 2018