The various elements of the chinoiserie decoration are derived from A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing, published by Stalker and Parker in 1688, in which they declared in their introduction 'The Epistle to the Reader and Practitioner', that 'We have laid before you an Art very much admired, and all those who hold any commerce with the Inhabitants of Japan'. The following chapters include 'How to Make Varnishes', 'To make raised work in imitation of Japan, and of the Paste', and instructions 'To take off any Japan-patterns in this Book, upon any piece of work whatever'. The treatise contains some twenty three plates showing illustrations of flowers, birds, figures and pavilions, all in the oriental manner whih relate closley to the decoration found on this bureau.

Bureaux of similar form in red and black japanned decoration are illustrated in Adam Bowett, English Furniture: 1660-1714 : From Charles II to Queen Anne (Woodbridge 2002), p.216-217 pl. 7:42, 7:47.