Exhibition Quality Japanese Yosegi Cylinder Desk

A magnificent exhibition quality 19th century Japanese Yosegi cylinder desk. All surfaces covered in fine marquetry and parquetry inlay using exotic woods from the Hakone forests. The top section having a moulded cornice above a combination of 15 drawers and cupboards below are 4 ebonized drawers with typical Oriental carving. The cylinder fall inlaid with mythical animals amongst clouds and opens to an interior fitted with 4 doors, pigeonholes and 8 drawers with a pull out writing slide. Below are 4 bow fronted, carved and ebonized drawers with turned pulls. The twin pedestals having 3 drawers each with applied mouldings and turned pulls. The wings with carved and pierced hinged supports and pull out slides with small cupboards behind. The back is also covered in Yosegi inlay which allows the desk to be freestanding and the whole raised on plinth bases with applied carvings. Condition - Very good and ready for use in the home or office etc.
Maximum Dimensions:- Height…71’’/ 180cm. Width…62’’/ 158cm. Depth…30.5’’/ 78cm.
Free U.K. delivery on this item.
NOTES of INTEREST
Situated 60 miles south of Tokyo Japan the small town of Hakone is famous for its hot springs and unique craft of Yosegi marquetry usually in the making small boxes and table cabinets. This exceptional large desk was possibly created for an exhibition as larger pieces were presented at the Universal Exhibitions in Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876) and Paris (1878).
The mountainous Hakone forests offered a wide selection of coloured woods including Cornus, Ilex, Mochi tree, Japanese Linden,Black Katsura Jindai, Chesnut, Falcata Gray Magnolia, Haohada-no-Shimi, Rosa Light BrownSophora, Chinese apricot, Japanese apricot, Japanese mulberry, Japanese smoked oak Red Rengath, Padouk Yellow Linden, Picrasma Wood, Varnish Tree, Mulberry Green, Black Locust Tree, Magnolia Brown Falcata, Walnut Light Yellow Himalayan Spindle, Picrasma Wood. Since the area becoming a national park the trees are no longer cut for Yosegi.