A Colourful Past: A Re-examination of a Swedish Rococo Set of Furniture with a Focus on the Urushi Components

Abstract

Two artefacts in royal custody, an étagère (inventory number HGK401) and a writing desk (inventory number HGK1249), that display specific aspects of Swedish Rococo furniture in an exciting combination, are re-examined through scientific means. Microscopy of cross sections, wood species identification, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses reveal some of their physical and chemical characteristics. The results show that the original wood includes hinoki, and the actual urushi ware originates from at least two different artefacts, of which one was made in Japan. A specific mixture of saps hitherto only confirmed on historical Ryukyu Island urushi artefacts was detected. Blue coloured urushi is verified.