Writing desk

Oak, lignum vitae, pine, box wood and probably walnut ; bone, iron and textile. First half of the 18th century.Salto de línea During the Modern Era, as the variety of Spanish domestic furniture was limited, the escritoire, commonly known as bargueño, was used as the drawers of an desk or a safe box.

In the shape of a rectangular straight sided prism and with side handles to make it easy to carry, it is closed on all sides except at the front which folds down and has a closure with metal cut out shield in openwork and a catch riveted to the top.Salto de línea The structure corresponds to a known model, although somewhat unusual as the sobriety of its outside appearance is in sharp contrast to the decorative display to be seen inside.Salto de línea When the lid is opened down a frontal can be seen richly ornamented with metal plates, fillets and inlays of bone and lignum vitae, arranged in such a way that it gives the impression of large number of drawers although in fact there are not so many as various are grouped in the same cavity. Three small architectonic facades or "capillas" on this frontal are decorated with representations engraved on bone plaques of the Immaculate Conception and of the Apostles Peter and Paul.Salto de línea