Standaard voor een spiegel van een toiletdoos 1700 - 1800

This small mirror stand and box from Japan offers us a glimpse into the global exchange of goods and ideas during the Edo period. The stand is made of wood, lacquer, and gold. It probably belonged to a member of the Dutch upper class who sought exotic, luxury items from abroad. Japan was largely closed off to foreign trade, but the Dutch East India Company was granted limited access to Japanese ports. These cross-cultural encounters led to a fascination with Japanese art and culture in Europe. The box's decoration, featuring traditional Japanese motifs like blossoming trees, catered to European tastes while reflecting Japanese artistic traditions. Such objects remind us of the complex relationships between colonizer and colonized, consumer and producer. They invite us to reflect on the human desire for beauty and self-reflection, as well as the social and economic structures that shape our access to them. They also speak to the intimacy and self-care associated with personal grooming.