ITALIAN STYLE “BARGUEÑO”, TORTOISESHELL AND WOOD, 18TH CENTURY.

Italian style chest of drawers, 18th century. Carey, wood and gilded bronze. An open-plan writing desk made of wood, with the central part pushed forward and highlighted by a double chapel of architectural composition. Each of the sides has five drawers with the front decorated with tortoiseshell and an elaborate gilt bronze lock shield (two rampant lions facing each other, placed on a garland and with a crowned shield between them, in which the key hole is located). The centre of the front has two levels: the lower one has four columns with entasis, two on each side and joined by an entablature and a top finial in dark wood, and a series of gilt metal elements in the centre among which stands out, sheltered under a semicircular arch, the figure of Hercules fighting Cacus (the giant who terrorised the Palatine Hill before the founding of Rome); the upper one has mouldings forming recesses, with an important heraldic shield in the centre, all enhanced with volutes on the sides, and different elements in gilt metal, of classicist inspiration. The general layout of the furniture follows a model that was very widespread and valued in 17th century Europe, of which the best examples have generally been those of Italian manufacture, and which continued into the 18th century without breaking the compositional clarity that is displayed in this front, but rather changing slight decorative details and elements in the area of the central chapel, above all. The practice of using tortoiseshell plates in furniture re-emerged in Europe during the 17th century. The high price and great demand for furniture made from sea turtle shell are explained by the scarcity of the material, which had to be imported (usually from Central America) and the fact that its production required highly specialized labor. As is normal for this type of furniture, also called “waste bins” because they contain important documents, tortoiseshell plates were often highlighted with gilded metal decorations, with the use of bronze being very common for this type of furniture.

· Size: 69x137x160 cms.