A Touch of Asia…
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Fig. 23 -A detail of the tray of the Japanese box - Van Diemen Box, 1636-39. - Victoria and Albert Museum (London) - W.49-1916.
On the other hand, on the surface decoration of boxes like these, themes derived from Asian lacquer were more esteemed than European inspired images. Both in Asian and European design, flowers, figures, and animals such as this butterfly were popular. Geometric patterns like checkerboard, spirals and wavy lines were beloved too, and thus preserved in the European lacquerwares. In A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing it was even advised to artists who practised the art of Japanning that ‘with Indian or Chinese greater liberties may be taken… for in these is often seen a butterfly supporting an Elephant or things equally absurd: yet from their gay colouring and easy disposition they seldom fail to please’.