SPANISH CHEST OF DRAWERS FOR SACRISTY-USE. WALNUT AND IRON. SPAIN, 17TH CENTURY

Sacristy chest of drawers in walnut wood with carved decoration. Spain, 17th century. Furniture with three very deep drawers with the lower one higher, on rectangular legs and with a straight wooden top board, slightly protruding. Each of the drawers has two wrought iron handles. The sides have been decorated with simple rectangular molding panels, while the drawers have been carved in relief: the upper one, with branches, vines and leaves; the central one with fleshy vegetal scrolls; the lower one with three plates, the lateral ones with a central rhombus and flowers in the corners, and the central one with a rose framed by a cord with three knots on each side set in two keys. It is these carvings, in addition to the depth of the drawers, the horizontality of the composition and lines and the straight top board that suggests the use of the furniture in a sacristy to store liturgical clothing appropriately and, furthermore, indicates that there could have been been commissioned by a Franciscan institution (note the typical cord with the knots) dedicated to Saint Peter (because of the two keys in the corners). Although it does not have the usual rear paneling from the 16th century, it does have the front with volumetric carvings, typical of the 17th century, and decorative elements typical of the Baroque, in addition to certain memories of previous furniture (panels in the lower area). The carving and quality of the assembly of the panels (note the tongue and groove of the corners) shows that these were works of relevance, intended for religious environments. The boxes on the sides are reminiscent of those on the central chest of drawers in the Ante-sacristy of the Cathedral of Ávila. As in that of the sacristy of the Cathedral of Murcia, it is the fronts that present carvings in this example, which are reminiscent of others such as those on the refectory table from the collection of the Marquis of Santo Domingo (Madrid). More frequent, however, are those with simpler fronts, although, due to direct influences, examples can be found that demonstrate the popularity of this prototype, such as the chest of drawers in the sacristy of the Old Convent of San Francisco in Havana (Cuba).

· Size: 175x105x112 cms.