French Lacquerwork.— The beautiful pieces of old Japanese and Chinese lacquerwork that were being imported to France created a great vogue for making up French modern furniture to include Oriental lacquer panels. This extravagant fashion lasted from 1680 to say 1793; that is to say, under Louis XIV, during the Regency, and under Louis XV and the Pompadour and still under Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Thus for a hundred years French ebenisfes were breaking up the finest old Oriental etageres, boxes, folding screens, etc., to produce their armoires and cabinets; and the lovely effects produced when bronze and gilt carved mounts were added from the artistic hands of the Caffieris and other clever metal carvers are shown in the costly extant pieces. Marie Antoinette had a fine collection of Oriental pieces, now to be seen in the Louvre. Even under Napoleon lacquers were much favored. It is not to be wondered at, consid ering the great demand and remunerative prices paid for lacquerwork, that French artisans should attempt creations in imitation. They were not without success, though the product is one created from varnish gums combined with shellacs, not lacquer. Most successful in this field of endeavor was Robert Martin (1706 65), a decorator of furniture, Sedan-chairs. etc. By 1733 he received the title of "varnisher to the King.• His panels with Chinese land scapes, figures, etc. (chinoiseries) and other French decoration were of a high quality, as were those of his descendants, equalled by the excellent workmanship of the cabinet work. Good pieces of "vernis Martin" fetch high prices to this day, and the product includes small ware such as snuffboxes, etc.
English Lacquerwork.— From the last quarter of the 17th century and during first half of the 18th century England was passing through a veritable rage for lacquered furni ture. Oriental imports on a large scale gave impulse to the fad. This style of decoration was termed "Indian," It became so popular that the art was taught to young ladies in the schools. Cabinetworkers, when Queen Mary led the fashion and placed all her "china" in 9apanned" closets, became proficienviacquerers.
The fashion came so suddenly and became so extremely popular that lacquer coatings began to cover furniture of every description as is evidenced by the fact that "Queen Anne" style pieces of lacquerwork extant, if scratched. of ten disclose walnut veneer beneath. English lac pieces of this period are, generally, in red, green blue, violet, some buff. These pieces are now getting scarce and are prized by collectors, espe cially those in red. A survival of this "lac querwork" occurred in the 80's of last century during the Adams' style vogue. The product was termed "Japanned work* and was in black, green or gray, mostly, and heightened with gilt or painted decoration. The execution of this furniture was poor and few pieces (unless retouched) exist that are not dilapi dated.
Bibliography.—Audsley, G. A., 'Ornamen tal Arts in Japan' (London 1882-84); Breuer. A. A., 'Chinese Inlaid Lacquer' (in Burlington Magazine, 1914) ; Bucher, B., 'Geschichte der technischen (Stuttgart 1875); Bushell, Dr. S. W., 'Chinese Art (London 1909) : Gonse, L., 'L'Art japonais' (Paris 1883) ; Hart, E., 'Notes on the History of Lacquer' (in Japanese Society Transactions and Pro ceedings, London 1897) ; Hendley, T. H., 'Lacquer Industrial Art in Bikanir. India' (in Journal of Indian Art, London 1891); Ilg, A., ( Einiges iiber die Technik orientalische Lackar heiten' (in Mitheilungen des K. K. Oesterr. Museums, Vienna 1872) • Jacquemart, A., 'Les Laques' (Paris 1859) •, Mew, E., 'Old Lacquer> (in Connoisseur, London 1910-14); Moorcroft, W., 'Description of Cashmere> (London 1841); Quin, J. I., 'The Lacquer of Japan' (in Asiatic Society of Japan, 'Transactions,' Yokohama 1881) ; Semper, G., 'Der Stil in den techn. and tekton. Kiinsten> (Frankfort 1860) Smith, W. H., 'A Description and History. of Japanese Lacquer> (in Japan Society, 'Trans actions and Proceedings,> London 1907) • Teall, G., 'Lacquers from further East than Manda lay) (in House and Garden, New York 1917); Walters, W. T., 'Oriental Collection' (Balti more 1884).