A Spanish Baroque style metal-mounted rosewood, bone and tortoiseshell inlaid ebonised cabinet on stand, mid-19th century

of architectural form with a cresting inlaid with the initial F.Y. surmounted by a crown, above a central door with a niche surmounted by the coat of arms of Ferdinand V, King of Aragon (1452-1516) and Ysabella I, Queen of Castile (1451-1504), 

the front elaborately pen-engraved ivory inlaid with a crowned double monogram and the coat-of-arms of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and his Queen Isabella I of Castile and various scenes and a text plaque relating to the siege and the 'Guerra de Granada' where the Queen was protected from the Moors by interference of the Virgin and St. Louis of France and as gratitude founded the monastery San Luis Real de la Zubia in 1543

Possibly acquired by Adeline, Countess of Cardigan and Lancastre (1824-1915) for Deene Park, Corby, Northamptonshire; Christie's London, 19th Century Furniture and Sculpture, 21 March 2002, lot 297

Related literature: A. Cottino, Mobiliário do século XVII, Lisbon, 1989, pp. 58-61.

This impressive cabinet is in overall good conserved condition. There are marks and scratches consistent with age and use and chips to edges, namely to cornice. The bone has slightly yellowed throughout as visible in the catalogue photos, the metalwork would benefit from a clean and polish, there are minor repairs to veneers throughout. A cabinet with a great presence and scale.
"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."

Betraying Flemish influences, the architectural form of this cabinet reflects the typical Spanish mid-17th century cabinet of the papelera type, which was usually veneered in tortoiseshell, ebony and ivory. The present example belongs to a group ascribable to a same, albeit unknown workshop, whose production included pairs in première and contre-partie, including one sold Art, Genoa, 4 December 2007, lot 539. 

Such pieces are strictly related to 17th century ones such as a table cabinet in the Museo de Artes Decorativas, Madrid, and one in the Musée de la Renaissance, Écouen (cf. Cottino, op. cit., pp. 58 and 61). 

Deene Park, in the possession of the Brudenells since 1514, was the main seat of James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797-1868), who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava, during the Crimean War. 

The plaque stating: 'During the Siege of Granada and having their seat in Santa Fe the Catholic Kings, Don Fernando and Donna Ysabel, around the year 1491, the brave Queen with her guards and some soldiers, left to inspect the buildings of the city of Zubia. The moors, having heard of this, sieged the Christians. The devout Queen hid behind a laurel and, in prayer, commended herself to St. Louis King of France whose day it was, and promised to found a convent to St. Francis in that place if they left unscathed. The King spoke to her and promised that they would escape and ordered her to keep her promise to found the convent after the conquest of Granada. This convent still exists under the name of St. Luis el Real de Zubia.'