SPAIN, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

Details

A HISPANO-MORESQUE BONE-INLAID VARGUENO
SPAIN, 16TH/17TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form decorated on three sides, the front divided into six drawers and a central compartment with a hinged door, the front of the drawers decorated with three different types of interlocking stellar motifs within chevron borders, each with a later knop, the central panel with a raised arch with carved interlocking cusped palmettes over a large eight pointed star and a band of stepped chevrons, the lower part of the door with a small-scale stellar pattern within geometric border, the sides with a geometric pattern arranged around a central star, lower bevelled edges with further chevron bands, the upper cornice with traces of a similar chevron pattern
19½ x 35¾ x 14 3/8in. (49.6 x 90.8 x 37.5cm.)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

This vargueno displays a wonderful variety of inlaid geometric designs constructed around repeated stellar motifs. An escritorio attributed to 17th century Spain in a private collection in Madrid has a similar playful attitude to decoration. The Madrid example also uses a geometric design which is almost identical to that used on the middle row of drawers on our present piece (Maria Paz Aguilo Alonso, El Mueble en Espana Siglos XVI-XVII, Madrid, 1993, no. 201, p. 280).

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