It is especially rare to encounter a set of six japanned chairs, which were likely originally part of a larger suite of eight or twelve. These chairs are scarlet and gilt-japanned throughout, profusely decorated with figural genre scenes and lively floral motifs rendered in gold on a brilliant red ground. The vase-shaped splat and trapezoidal caned seat stand on cabriole front legs terminating in ball and claw feet, joined to the swept back legs by a turned H-form stretcher.

The chairs are naturally associated with the famous Infantado suite of red-japanned furniture supplied by Giles Grendey for the Duke of Infantado at Lazcano Palace—an ensemble that has become emblematic of furniture of this type. The present examples, however, differ in form and compare more closely with a pair of chairs—though green and gilt-japanned—in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg.¹ Another set of six japanned chairs, featuring elaborate crestings and taller backs suggesting a slightly earlier date, is illustrated by Partridge.² A further comparable example in black japanning is published by Dr. Bowett.³

Produced during the mid-18th century, these japanned chairs reflect the height of European fascination with East Asian lacquerwork and decorative arts. Japanning—an English technique emulating Asian lacquer—was prized for its finish and vivid coloration, which brought an exotic and luxurious flair to European interiors. The brilliant scarlet ground and intricate gilding of these chairs not only demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship but also align with the era’s taste for chinoiserie and richly ornamented furniture designed to impress.

Functionally and stylistically, chairs of this type were intended for use in formal reception rooms and grand dining settings, communicating both the wealth and refined cultural sensibilities of their owners. The presence of figural genre scenes alongside floral motifs further underscores the blending of narrative and decorative arts typical of the period, while the robust cabriole legs terminating in ball and claw feet echo fashionable English Rococo influences.

As such, these chairs serve not only as exquisite examples of japanned furniture but also as tangible artifacts illustrating the cross-cultural exchanges and aesthetic aspirations of 18th-century aristocratic society.