RAFAEL CONTRERAS E HIJO: The Alhambra Palace in Granada was built during the Nasrid dynasty (1232-1492), the last period of Muslim rule in Spain. The buildings were therefore highly decorated in the Islamic taste with geometric patterns and elaborate floral decoration interwoven with Arabic calligraphy. After Granada's capture in 1492 by Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish converted the Alhambra to a Casa Real, or royal residence. By the turn of the 19th century the Alhambra complex had fallen into a Romantic state of disrepair and this, coupled with the beginnings of Spanish Orientalism, drove a movement from within Spain to preserve and study the palace. The architect and draughtsman Rafael Contreras (d. 1890) was the most important member of three generations responsible for the restoration of the Alhambra Palace during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His father José Contreras was arquitecto de la Alhambra from 1830 and Rafael continued his work becoming restaurador adornista in 1847 on his father's death. The earliest visitors to the Alhambra had taken to chiseling away pieces of decoration as keepsakes. To prevent further vandalism and to capitalize on the market for souvenirs, Contreras é Hijo produced plaster replicas for retail, a selection of which were acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Lots 102 and 103 are rare examples of the firm's work in silvered-metal electroplate made directly from plaster casts of the decoration drawn from various architectural segments of the Alhambra Palace. By 1840, the English firm Elkington & Co. had pioneered and patented the electroplating technique, and wares in the 'Alhambra style', namely a massive console and mirror, were exhibited to overwhelming acclaim by the firm at the 1862 London International Exhibition. The fortunes gained from the patent resulted in a massive output of wares by Elkington incorporating the technique. For Contreras é Hijo, the exorbitant costs associated with manufacture produced far fewer works and the scale models and furnishings were almost certainly supplied on special commission to collectors or for exhibition display.

A SPANISH ELECTROPLATE MODEL OF AN ALHAMBRA FOUNTAIN

ATTRIBUTED TO RAFAEL CONTRERAS E HIJO, ALHAMBRA, CIRCA 1890

Details

A SPANISH ELECTROPLATE MODEL OF AN ALHAMBRA FOUNTAIN
ATTRIBUTED TO RAFAEL CONTRERAS E HIJO, ALHAMBRA, CIRCA 1890
Modeled after the Patio des Leones at the Alhambra Palace, the dome lifting to reveal a red velvet-lined compartment, on a stepped plinth
16¾ in. (43 cm.) high, 14 in. (35.5 cm.) wide

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Lot Essay

In 1858, Contreras began an extensive restoration of the Patio de los Leones at the Alhambra Palace, which included the addition of new tiles and a domed roof, which was later removed. A plaster model of the domed pavilion by Contreras, now preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum (Museum No. 927:1,2-1900), features the elaborate 'honeycomb' arches repeated on the present reduction. A further electroplate scale model of the Patio de los Leones, bearing Contreras é Hijo's manufacturing label, was sold Christie's, London, 29 October 1998, lot 263 (£18,400).

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