A SPANISH IRON-MOUNTED, PARCEL-GILT AND POLYCHROME-PAINTED WALNUT AND CHESTNUT VARGUENO-ON-CHEST
A SPANISH IRON-MOUNTED, PARCEL-GILT AND POLYCHROME-PAINTED WALNUT AND CHESTNUT VARGUENO-ON-CHEST

MID-17TH CENTURY

Details
A SPANISH IRON-MOUNTED, PARCEL-GILT AND POLYCHROME-PAINTED WALNUT AND CHESTNUT VARGUENO-ON-CHEST
MID-17TH CENTURY
The fall-front and sides mounted with red canvas-backed shaped pierced panels, with three moulded scallop shells flanking the hinges, enclosing twelve moulded and spirally-turned bone spindle-mounted drawers around a central door enclosing four further drawers, the lower section carved to the front with geometric patterns and with two drawers above two doors, with panelled sides, on later bun feet, with carrying-handles to sides of both sections, the reverse of the central door to the upper section branded with a coronet and 'F.ANZ.REI A ENS' for the Infantado family, with paper label inscribed 'Palacio Duque del Infantado Salon primer piso Ante..., the base apparently original
58¼ in. (148 cm.) high; 44¼ in. (112.5 cm.) wide; 17¾ in. (45 cm.) deep (2)
Provenance
According to the paper label, the Mendoza family, the Dukes of Infantado, El Palacio del Infantado, Guadelajara.
Rodriguez & Jimenez, Madrid.
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1980.

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Donald Johnston

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Lot Essay

The Mendoza family, whose lineage goes back to the 11th century, was linked to the Spanish Monarchy, and received titles of nobility and considerable inheritances for their services to the Crown. The Mendozas reached the height of their power and influence during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. Diego Hurtado de Mendoza (1417-1479) who built the Castle of Manzanares el Real, was a man greatly trusted by Ferdinand and Isabella, and was given the title of Duque del Infantado. Later the seat of the Dukes of the Infantado moved to the Palacio del Infantado in Guadalajara, built by the second Duke, ÍIñigo López de Mendoza y Luna (1438-1500).

This form of writing desk on chest, most probably originating from Salamanca, is discussed by María Aguiló Alonso in El Mueble en España (Madrid, 1993). Different arrangments of drawers, doors, carving and decoration are identified and this model conforms with closely related example identified as type 'C' (op. cit., p. 123, cat. 219). A similar vargueno is illustrated in L. Feduchi, El Mueble Español, Barcelona, 1969, p. 123, fig. 106; and p. 129, fig. 116. The lion-fretted iron-work also features on a related cabinet acquired in 1864 by the Victoria & Albert Museum, and discussed by J. H. Pollen, Ancient and Modern Furniture, 1876 (p.78). Related varguenos were sold from the collection of Niall Hobhouse, Christie's London, 22 May 2008, lot 249; at Christie's New York, 22 April 2008, lot 127, with the base gilded over; at Christie's London, 10 November 2005, lot 105; at Christie's New York, 25-26 September 2001, lot 213; and at Sotheby's London, 22 May 1987, lot 150.

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