A RARE GILT-COPPER-MOUNTED SHELL-INLAID JAPANESE NANBAN LACQUER CABINETMomoyama Period (1573-1615), late 16thearly 17th centuryTHE SELECTED CONTENTS OF MELDON PARKA RARE GILT-COPPER-MOUNTED SHELL-INLAID JAPANESE NANBAN LACQUER CABINETMomoyama Period (1573-1615), late 16thearly 17th centuryEmbellished predominantly in gold hiramaki-e lacquer and inlaid with shell, the single-hinged door decorated on the front with a pair of ho-o (phoenixes) in flight among flowering maple, cherry blossoms and fruiting tachibana orange, the top surface with pagoda-like buildings nestled among flowering cherry blossoms; the right side with tachibana orange and cherry blossoms, the left side with tsubaki (camellia); the back with meandering kuzu (kudzu vine); the door opening downwards to reveal an interior panel decorated with further meandering branches of kuzu (kudzu vine), and seven drawers of different sizes decorated with kikyo (Chinese bell flowers), cherry blossoms and fruiting tachibana orange, all arranged horizontally in four rows and fitted with a gilt-copper chrysanthemum knop surrounding a central drawer fitted with a copper lock plate, all framed by narrow thin bands of gold lacquer zig-zag motifs, the sides with two copper-gilt carrying handles (one bracket handle lacking), the corners applied with gilt-copper fittings engraved with stylised cherry, the underside undecorated. 44.5cm wide x 29cm deep x 32cm high, (17 1/2in wide x 11in deep x 12 1/2in high)None