An extremely rare and highly important early 18th century Queen Anne miniature white japanned bureau cabinet retaining original shaped bevelled mirror plate and superb scarlet interior; having gilt gesso cresting and feet of a later date. 
The domed top section with later gesso cresting having a single door with original mercury silvered bevelled mirror plate revealing a vibrant scarlet japanned interior and a further domed door in the centre, all decorated in gold with intricate rural scenes and birds.  The lockable centre door revealing a contrasting blue and white japanned interior depicting vases and lotus blossoms. 
The middle section with velvet lined hinged fall resting on sliding lopers and revealing a scarlet japanned interior of four concave drawers flanking a central serpentine fronted drawer and four pigeon-holes.  The single serpentine fronted drawer beneath the fall is fitted with a number of small compartments and is flanked by slides either side of the cabinet for candle-sticks. 
The lower section has a further slide to the front which is centrally hinged, above two graduated drawers on shaped plinth and later claw and ball gesso feet. 
The whole cabinet decorated in brightly coloured chinoiserie scenes with gold highlights on white japanned background and extremely fine geometrical border designs on a simulated tortoiseshell background.
Note: The size is most unusual, as is the use of white lacquer.
This miniature cabinet reflects the unique skill and craftsmanship of early 18th century japanning technique. In jappanning, white is the rarest and most difficult colour to achieve and only very few workshops were capable of mastering this technique. The detail and fineness of the decoration speak for themselves. The use of simulated tortoiseshell decoration, exotic flower design and Chinese figures, combined with the overall shape of the cabinet with its carved gesso cresting, culminates in a true fusion of eastern influenced chinoiserie decoration and western furniture design.