An important Japanese lacquer box with a view of the 'Nieuwe Stadsherberg van Amsterdam' or the Amsterdam waterfront

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Nagasaki, Edo-period, 1830-1840

 

The black lacquered wood box, decorated in gold and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, depicting the cityscape of Amsterdam.

 

H. 16.5 x W. 51.7 x 33 cm

 

Note:

The depiction of the Stadsherberg is after an engraving by Evert Maaskamp (1769-1834) in 1789, entitled Nieuwe Stads-Herberg te Amsterdam, L’hôtel dit le Nieuwestads-Herberg. The Nieuwe Stadsherberg aan the IJ lake was built in 1662 at the end of a long jetty in the water, outside the city gate near the Martelaarsgracht. Travellers arriving late by ship, after the city gate was closed, found lodgings there. It was demolished in 1872 to make place for the Central Railway Station of Amsterdam.

 

In the Groninger Museum there is a sewing table decorated with an almost identical design, a European harbour scene, a garland and scattered sprays of flowers in mother of pearl (inv. 1991-482), see: Oliver Impey & Christiaan Jörg, Japanese Export Lacquer, 1580-1850, , ill. 538.