Japanning on Furniture: History and Care | Antique Repair Shop

European japanning imitated admired Asian lacquer using layered coatings, painted or raised decoration and often gilding. It appeared on cabinets, clock cases, trays and later revival furniture.

What to look for

Look for landscape scenes, figures, foliage and gilt ornament built over a dark or coloured ground. Distinguish the European technique from true East Asian lacquer when cataloguing.

Common mistakes

Flaking layers are fragile and can be lost through dusting. Old coatings may be soluble in water, alcohol or other cleaners, so routine polishing is risky.

Care and repair

Handle by sound structural areas, keep away from radiators and retain every loose flake. Consolidation belongs with a specialist in painted or lacquered surfaces.

References and further reading

[V&A furniture collection](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/furniture)
[Canadian Conservation Institute: agents of deterioration](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/agents-deterioration.html)

This article is educational. Test treatments cautiously and consult a conservator before altering a valuable or historically important object.

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