Kuhn & Komar. Desk, late 19th century. Lacquered wood, cinnabar lacquer, metal, 67 x 47 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. (170.2 x 120.7 x 70.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman, 1990.230.13a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1990.230.13a-b.jpg)
Kuhn & Komar. Desk, late 19th century. Lacquered wood, cinnabar lacquer, metal, 67 x 47 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. (170.2 x 120.7 x 70.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman, 1990.230.13a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.230.13a-b_bw.jpg)
Kuhn & Komar. Desk, late 19th century. Lacquered wood, cinnabar lacquer, metal, 67 x 47 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. (170.2 x 120.7 x 70.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman, 1990.230.13a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.230.13a-b_mark_bw.jpg)
Desk
Decorative Arts and Design
MAKER
Kuhn & Komar
MEDIUM
Lacquered wood, cinnabar lacquer, metal
DATES
late 19th century
DIMENSIONS
67 x 47 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. (170.2 x 120.7 x 70.5 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
on back: label "SINGAPORE HONGONG / KUHN & KOMAR / KOBE / SHANGHAI YOKOHAMA"
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
1990.230.13a-b
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Desk: Carved polychrome wood, metal mounts. Ebonized with red highlights. In two parts. Super-structure as two pagodas at either end. Proper right pagoda with central rectangular section fronted with deeply carved polychrome-hinged door with peacock in landscape setting. Elaborate carved and pierced crest above as dragon with monster finials to either end, crowned by sloping conical form with over-all wave carved design. Proper left pagoda with lower rectangular section fronted with pair of sliding doors with polychrome floral panels, upper rectangular section with single hinged door with polychrome panel with bird and landscape elements. Elaborate curving roof with carved bird and medallion in crest. Two pagodas connected by arched moon with bridge with elaborate carved and pierced dragons below and rocky landscape at back. Sides of pagodas with incised over-all oriental diaper patterns punctuated with roundels with carved floral motifs. Rectangular lower section with ebonized with red highlights, columnar legs with small round pad feet with over-all oriental diaper pattern incised decoration, mounted with metal roundels with floral motifs. Top front of writing surface with rolled contour similar to legs. Front of desk fitted with two narrow drawers fronted with rocky landscapes in high relief. Brown stained writing surface with incised oriental diaper pattern bands at sides and polychrome elaborate red/orange irises with green and yellow painted scrolling elongated leaves.
CONDITION - Very good condition.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Kuhn & Komar. Desk, late 19th century. Lacquered wood, cinnabar lacquer, metal, 67 x 47 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. (170.2 x 120.7 x 70.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman, 1990.230.13a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1990.230.13a-b.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, CUR.1990.230.13a-b.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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