Description: A black lacquer Box
Spa, circa 1700 – 1710
beech, black lacquer, painted and raised gold (metal powder) with a figural biblical scene of David and Goliath on the lid framed by an ornamental border.

Following Steyaert et al.[1] the box with its unique biblical theme can be grouped to the first period of the Spa production covering the last decades of the 17th century, when the inspiration by Japanese lacquers is clearly visible. As typical Spa elements the painted escutcheon and hinges can be noted. The lid is shut by a simple lock in the front. Unusual are the quarter circles in the edges of the pictorial scene and the half circles on the edges of the box, that are possibly inspired be gilded metal models and show gold metal powder on red lacquer. As usual the interior of the box is sprinkled with metal particles. For comparable boxes from the first period of Spa japanning see the chapter The Craze for Oriental lacquers and The “painted works” of Spa in Lydwin de Moerloses book Spa Ville-ècrin des Jolités, Treasure trove of Jolités.[1] The box is a rare and with its biblical scene of David and Goliath on the lid unique example of early Spa lacquer.

Published:
Kopplin, Monika: Gerard Dagly (1660 – 1715) und die Berliner Hofwerkstatt. München 2015, p. 59.
Steyaert et al. 2019, p. 15/16.
[1]   Steyaert, Delphine/Decq, Louise/ Cattersel, Vincent/Van Binnebeke, Emile/ Indekeu, Charles/ Fremout, Wim/ Saverwyns, Steven: Japanning in Spa at the End of the Seventeenth Century to the Middle of the Eighteenth Century: Historical Context and Materials for Lacquered bois de Spa. Studies in Conservation. Vol. 64/May 2019. p.14 – 16.
[1]   De Moerlose, Lydwine:  Spa Ville-ècrin des Jolités, Treasure trove of Jolités, Brussels 2018, p. 38 and 42.