Wood - 19th-20th Century

Elegant and rare Shodana Asian cabinet from the Meiji period (1868–1912), fashioned in darkened wood and richly ornamented with delicate mother-of-pearl inlays (raden), featuring a profuse decoration of floral branches, birds and naturalist elements of great refinement. The structure is composed of a complex asymmetric arrangement of small compartments, sliding doors, niches and open shelves, a characteristic feature of late 19th-century Asian display furniture, designed simultaneously for exhibition and the storage of precious objects. Stand out are the high-relief carved panels with figures and vegetal motifs, as well as the lacy cutouts and incised details inspired by the East. The wavy upper crown, heavily adorned with floral inlays, gives the piece majesty and balance. It rests on an elegant pierced base with curved legs ending in zoomorphic feet, reinforcing the sculptural and decorative character of the whole. A piece with strong visual impact and high artistic quality, representative of the virtuosity achieved by Asian masters of the Meiji period, a time when Japanese furniture began to be broadly exported to Europe and the United States, becoming highly valued by Western collectors. Dimensions: 225 × 120 × 50 cm.