November 2020 – Fishing for Compliments

10th December 2020

The star of this newsletter is undoubtedly the shodana or open display cabinet above.  It is remarkable in several ways. Firstly, at 8’ 9” inches, it is considerably larger than most shodana.  Secondly it is not decorated with lacquer, gilding or shibayama inlays but instead relies solely on the carving of the hardwood for impact.  Finally, and most curious of all, is the subject matter.  The cresting has a right whale emerging through openwork, frothing waves, while the uprights are carved with naturalistic sharks and mullet-like fish.  Carp and goldfish abound in cloisonne and metalwork, while whales appear frequently in wood block prints depicting legends, but to find this selection of fish on carved furniture is most unusual.

Shop Categories

Furniture
Globes
Lighting
Mirrors
Bronzes
Chinese & Japanese
Maritime
Models
Miscellaneous
Bookcases

Latest Publications & Press

A Highly Important Carved Stained Lime Wood Barometer Made for Sudbury Hall in the Late Baroque Manner by J. Braund
Provenance Supplied to Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire By descent until sold by the Right Hon. Lord Vernon at Sotheby\'s on the 9th of February 1923, lot 116 Steam Mill Clocks...
View all Publications
Nick's 140+ Miles Walk from Bristol to Trafalgar Square
A very good friend is taking on an incredible challenge — Nick’s 140+ mile walk from Bristol to Trafalgar Square, starting May 21 and finishing May 28, 2025. This...
View all Press