LATE 17TH CENTURY

Details

A SPANISH BRASS-MOUNTED IVORY, TORTOISESHELL AND WALNUT CABINET
LATE 17TH CENTURY
Inlaid overall with hunting scenes, the rectangular pierced three-quarter gallery, above three short drawers and eight panelled drawers, each simulating two drawers, arranged around an architectural façade enclosing three drawers, on moulded base with bun feet, the pierced gallery probably later
33 in. (85 cm.) high; 49½ in. (126 cm.) wide; 19¼ in. (49 cm.) deep

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

The 17th Century Spanish cabinets of the papeleira and escritorio types, which had developed from the 16th Century fall-front vargueños were very representative of the mudejar or Hispano-Moresque style. Vargueños were typically decorated with an architectural façade fitted with small ivory plaques and often embellished with bronze mounts while the Papeleiras, a later and more ostentatious adaptation of the vargueño, were fitted with neither a fall-front nor doors, and were often surmounted by a gilt-bronze gallery.
This striking cabinet is related to a tortoiseshell and bone-inlaid papeleira in the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, Madrid (ill. M. Alonso, El Mueble en Espana, Siglos XVI-XVII, Madrid, 1993, p. 306).
Interestingly, the tales and adventures of Cervantes' Don Quixote have been a favoured subject for this style of cabinets, and scenes from the knight-errant's story can be found on numerous examples, including an escritorio currently in the Museo Casa de Cervantes, Valladolid, Spain (ill. M. Alonso, Op. Cit., p. 307).

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