Mid East & Asian : Lacquer : Japanese Lacquer Urns. Mid-19th Century A pair of Japanese papier-mache lacquer urns with finely engraved exotic ivory cranes in deep relief carrying stems of colored soapstone cherries, entwined around scrolling carved cherry trees with blossoms of engraved ivory. Chinoiserie developed into popular and romantic fashion during the 18th and 19th centuries, influencing the decorative art styles of these periods and adapting motifs and forms of Oriental culture to Western taste. By the late 17th century, Oriental landscapes, pagodas, figures, exotic birds, flowers and dragons were appearing on decorative arts. Similar to Christian culture there are a variety of meanwhile forgotten symbols in the Oriental world. For example, the cranes featured on the lacquer urns symbolize a long life. A crane is the bird and riding animal for the immortals and helps to communicate with the gods. Dia.    H 24       52 Inventory Department: UR Inventory Number: 677-001 Price: $22,000.00 Click here for print friendly page