A rare Spanish iron-mounted bone inlaid painted and parcel-gilt walnut vargueño on stand mid 17th century

with an iron handle on each side;regilt

The cabinet : The surface is in good restored condition and is of a dark colour. Some mounts are loose but can easily be tightened up.There is a chip to the moulded border at one corner where the cabinet meet the drawers. Some drawers relined. The gilding on the mounts is worn. There are construction cracks generally commensurate with age. The piece has been refinished. There is a patch to the veneer on the left side approx 32cm long by 5cm wide towards the front edge and an old restored diagonal crack across the same side with a small restoration. The red material is worn. There are also old restored cracks across the front of the fall-front. The elements on the interior have been regilt and the painted decoration has been refreshed. There is also a patch towards the rear of the other side. the lopers are later and so are the feet on the base. The base: The two doors on the base appear to have been later adapted from drawer fronts. In good restored condition and can be placed immediately.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

It is rare to find a vargueño on its original stand as on the present example as most are now on without their stands or on later stands.

The escritorio later called vargueño derives from the Catalan hembra, a bridal chest which had two large doors at the front each concealing a series of drawers. The escritorio was used not only as a writing desk but also for storage of papers and implements. In the early 16th century they were inlaid with hispano-moresque geometrical motifs in bone, in a style known as mudéjar. As Spanish craftsmen became more familiar with Classical architecture and ornament as a result of the translation of Sebastian Serlio's, L'Archittetura (1552), the inside of these escritorio were decorated with classical ornament and they were also gilded and in bright colours with the bone decorated with Indian ink.

The inside of this escritorio is architectural wih Baroque aedicules (framed openings flanked by columns, supporting a broken pediment). It is also lavishly decorated on the outside with iron decoration and locks on a velvet ground. They became known as vargueños from around 1870.

A related vargueño on its original stand was sold in these Rooms, Haute Epoque sale, 29^th October 2008, lot 182.