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Imposing writing cabinet set with its "contador". Lima. Viceroyalty of Peru. 18th century.
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Description
Imposing writing cabinet set with its "contador". Lima. Viceroyalty of Peru. 18th century.
This piece of furniture is decorated with inlaid shells - a technique known as "enconchado." The interior is made of red cedar covered with marquetry made from contrasting woods, tortoiseshell, stained bone and mother of pearl.
Total measurements: 114 x 110,5 x 33 cm. Lower body: 70 x 110,5 x 33 cm. Upper body: 55’5 x 78,8 x 25 cm.
Important example of Peruvian "enconchado" furniture. It was made for the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (also known as the Mercedarians). That's why on each of its faces, as well as on the doors of the central body, there is a tortoiseshell and mother of pearl coat of arms with Saint Lawrence's gridiron and the Cross of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy in an octagonal compartment in relief.
Both bodies of the desk have three sides each and are topped with various pinnacles which give them a marked architectural character. The lower one has two doors at the sides and a double central door, which hides four drawers behind it. The central section has another drawer.
The upper body follows the same scheme as the lower, but the sides do not open out with doors.
Among old inventories we find a definition for this type of furniture, which was very probably sold accompanied by a gaming table. As the curator Jorge Rivas describes (2007), "the highest strata of Colonial society in Latin America had an excessive taste for luxury. Enormous sums of money were invested in sumptuous items which came from all around the world. The merchandise from Europe and the Far East were in competition with local products, which were often even more luxurious than those which were imported." Rivas adds that this type of luxurious furniture was considered to be indispensable in showing a family’s social status. With regard to the technique used, "inlay was one of the most employed decorative techniques for decorating desks and writing cabinets. Generally, they were inlaid with precious materials such as bone, ivory, mother of pearl, ebony and tortoiseshell."
Jorge Rivas, who we quote, is currently the curator of the Frederick and Jan Mayer Center in the Denver Art Museum, and head of the Latin American Art department. He has correctly identified this furniture set as being originally from Peru, and, as we can read in Professor Gustavo Curiel’s interesting article: "it has been repeated, without any kind of basis, that this type of furniture was made in Mexico City, the Philippines, the Indo-Portuguese coast and continental Asia. Recently, Jorge Ribas has confirmed, after meticulous study and many comparisons, that these pieces were made in the Viceroyalty of Peru".
There are some comparable examples to this piece of furniture in the Dallas Meadows Museum, the Museo Pedro de Osma in Lima, the Museo Soumaya in Mexico and in the Buenamuerte church and convent in Lima.
Finally, there is an example with two body sections which is practically identical to ours which was sold at auction in Sotheby's in New York on the 5th November 1998 for $1690.
Bibliographic references:
- Campos Carlés de Peña, M. (2013). Un legado que pervive en Hispanoamérica. El mobiliario del Virreinato del Peru de los siglos XVII y XVIII. (pp. 241-287). Ediciones El Viso.
- Curiel, G. (2009). Mostrador limeño. Imágenes, del Instituto de Investigaciones estéticas de Mexico. Http://www.esteticas.unam.mx/revista_imagenes/imago/ima_curiel05.html
- Rivas, J. F. (2007). Observaciones sobre el origen, desarrollo y manufactura del mobiliario en América Latina. In J. J. Rishel y S. Stratton-Pruitt (Comps.), Revelaciones. Las artes en América Latina, 1492 - 1820. (pp. 498-499). Fondo de Cultura Económica.
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Imposing writing cabinet set with its "contador". Lima. Viceroyalty of Peru. 18th century.
This piece of furniture is decorated with inlaid shells - a technique known as "enconchado." The interior is made of red cedar covered with marquetry made from contrasting woods, tortoiseshell, stained bone and mother of pearl.
Total measurements: 114 x 110,5 x 33 cm. Lower body: 70 x 110,5 x 33 cm. Upper body: 55’5 x 78,8 x 25 cm.
Important example of Peruvian "enconchado" furniture. It was made for the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (also known as the Mercedarians). That's why on each of its faces, as well as on the doors of the central body, there is a tortoiseshell and mother of pearl coat of arms with Saint Lawrence's gridiron and the Cross of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy in an octagonal compartment in relief.
Both bodies of the desk have three sides each and are topped with various pinnacles which give them a marked architectural character. The lower one has two doors at the sides and a double central door, which hides four drawers behind it. The central section has another drawer.
The upper body follows the same scheme as the lower, but the sides do not open out with doors.
Among old inventories we find a definition for this type of furniture, which was very probably sold accompanied by a gaming table. As the curator Jorge Rivas describes (2007), "the highest strata of Colonial society in Latin America had an excessive taste for luxury. Enormous sums of money were invested in sumptuous items which came from all around the world. The merchandise from Europe and the Far East were in competition with local products, which were often even more luxurious than those which were imported." Rivas adds that this type of luxurious furniture was considered to be indispensable in showing a family’s social status. With regard to the technique used, "inlay was one of the most employed decorative techniques for decorating desks and writing cabinets. Generally, they were inlaid with precious materials such as bone, ivory, mother of pearl, ebony and tortoiseshell."
Jorge Rivas, who we quote, is currently the curator of the Frederick and Jan Mayer Center in the Denver Art Museum, and head of the Latin American Art department. He has correctly identified this furniture set as being originally from Peru, and, as we can read in Professor Gustavo Curiel’s interesting article: "it has been repeated, without any kind of basis, that this type of furniture was made in Mexico City, the Philippines, the Indo-Portuguese coast and continental Asia. Recently, Jorge Ribas has confirmed, after meticulous study and many comparisons, that these pieces were made in the Viceroyalty of Peru".
There are some comparable examples to this piece of furniture in the Dallas Meadows Museum, the Museo Pedro de Osma in Lima, the Museo Soumaya in Mexico and in the Buenamuerte church and convent in Lima.
Finally, there is an example with two body sections which is practically identical to ours which was sold at auction in Sotheby's in New York on the 5th November 1998 for $1690.
Bibliographic references:
- Campos Carlés de Peña, M. (2013). Un legado que pervive en Hispanoamérica. El mobiliario del Virreinato del Peru de los siglos XVII y XVIII. (pp. 241-287). Ediciones El Viso.
- Curiel, G. (2009). Mostrador limeño. Imágenes, del Instituto de Investigaciones estéticas de Mexico. Http://www.esteticas.unam.mx/revista_imagenes/imago/ima_curiel05.html
- Rivas, J. F. (2007). Observaciones sobre el origen, desarrollo y manufactura del mobiliario en América Latina. In J. J. Rishel y S. Stratton-Pruitt (Comps.), Revelaciones. Las artes en América Latina, 1492 - 1820. (pp. 498-499). Fondo de Cultura Económica.
"On Prophets, Saints and Princesses"
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Lots: 170
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Conde de Salvatierra, 8
Barcelona
08006
Spain
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
The purchase price includes the delivery of the lots in the venue of the auction. Transporting to other destinations is at the own risk of the client. The customer must contact "LST", to give the corresponding instructions for such transporting. "LST" is not responsible for the packaging or any accident incurred during transportation.
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Aufgeld / Premium: 22 %
Live: 3 %
jeweils plus 21 % USt. / each plus 21 % VAT
Terms & Conditions
CONDITIONS OF THE AUCTION:
I. REGISTRATION. To bid in the room customers must register at the beginning, filling out a form and picking a number that will identify them during the auction. Customers may be required to register in bank references or other guarantee system and if they do not prove the solvency "LST" will not accept bids and award the auction.
II. WRITTEN BIDS. "LST" will accept written bids, which will be formalized in the form provided by the room until the day before the auction. In such auctions, the room will bid in name of the client until the maximum stated in the offer and always at the lowest possible price. If there are two or more bids for the same amount, the one placed first will have the priority. Written bids received in advance, will have priority on the day of the auction.
III. TELEPHONE BIDS. "LST" will allow telephone bids, if interested people contact "LST" days before the auction providing personal data, ID card and the phone number which will be used by the staff of "LST" to call at the time of the auction. The buyer, within all the legal rights is making an offer for the asking price, when applies for telephone bid. "LST" will not take responsibility for any technical defects beyond its control, which may prevent to contact successfully the bidder during the auction.
IV. AUCTIONEER. The auction will be conducted by an auctioneer, director of the auction will be judge and arbitrator of it with full authority in its development, will award the lots to the highest bidder and is able to settle any controversy concerning lots sale, reject bids, divide lots or group them and remover objects from the room. Will be able to, if it is deemed suitable, not accept bids on the auction. His decision will be unappealable.
V. SALE OF LOTS. The lots are awarded to the highest bidder. Once the auctioneer blows the hammer, the buyer becomes responsible of the lot purchased, exempting "LST" of liability to for any damage and / or accidents that may occur. No refunds of lots.
VI. STARTING PRICE. The amount shown in the catalogue as the starting price for each lot will be, as a rule, the minimum selling price, except for exceptional cases where a reservation may be agreed upon with the seller or it set discretionary by the room.
VII. SCALE OF BIDS. The bids are set according to the following scale:
From 50.-€ to 200.-€…………………………………………..at 10.-€
From 200.-€ to 500.-€…………………………………… …25 in 25.-€
From 500.-€ to 1.000.-€………………………………..…..….50 in 50.-€
From 1.000.-€ to 2.000.-€………………………………..…100 in 100.-€
From 2.000.-€ to 5.000.-€……………………………….….250 in 250.-€
From 5.000.-€ to 10.000.-€…………………………………500 in 500.-€
From 10.000.-€ to 20.000.-€……………………………1.000 in 1.000.-€
From 20.000.-€ to 50.000.-€……………………………2.500 in 2.500.-€
From 50.000.-€ to 100.000.-€…………………………..5.000 in 5.000.-€
From 100.000.-€ to 100.000.-€………………………10.000 in 10.000.-€
From 200.000.-€ to 200.000.-€………………………25.000 in 25.000.-€
From 500.000.-€ to 500.000.-€………………………50.000 in 50.000.-€
VIII. RIGHT OF ADMISION. "LST" reserves the right to admission to the auction room and to reject, at its judgment, any purchase order, from clients whose solvency is not duly proved as well as not to sale auctions.
IX. SALE PRICES. The successful bidder of one or more lots must pay "LST" the final sale price achieves at auction, plus the 22 % plus 21% VAT on the commission, at total 26,62 % on Hammer Price.
X. CATALOG DATA. The catalogue data are obtained in order to careful research and advice, however, any responsibility is afforded about its accuracy. The lots will be auctioned in the state in which they are, not accepting any claims in restorations, breakage, damage, imperfections and, even description or numbering mistakes in the catalogue, in case of it, being the burden of the buyers to make sure before the auction that the description matches with their personal opinion about respective lot. The exhibition of the lots is intended to allow a perfect review and study of them.
XI. PAYMENT AND REMOVAL OF LOTS. Payment and removal of the lots will be held no later than five days following the auction. After this period expire without having the buyer removed the lot or lots purchases, it will accrue an expense of custody of 6 euros per day on each lot.
15 days after the auction without having the buyer paid and removes the sold lots, "LST" will inform the seller and there will begin judicial proceeding in order to obtain payment. The delay in payment by the purchaser of his/her sold lots will carry an interest increase at a rate of 1,5% per month.
XII. DELIVERY OF LOTS. The purchase price includes the delivery of the lots in the venue of the auction. Transporting to other destinations is at the own risk of the client. The customer must contact "LST", to give the corresponding instructions for such transporting. "LST" is not responsible for the packaging or any accident incurred during transportation.
XIII. RIGHT OF FIRT REFUSAL AND REPURCHASE. "LST" in order to article 38 of "Ley 16/1985 de 25 Junio del Patrimonio Histórico Español" (BOE. 155 June 29, 1985), will notify in advance to the Ministry of Culture, the content of their catalogues. Concerning the lots subject to the legislation referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Administration may exercise the rights of first refusal and repurchase according to the law. "LST" will watch over the protection of Artistic, Historical and Bibliographical Heritage of Spain. For customers out of European Community, a tax for export is required by the Administration.
XIV. VALUE ADDED TAX (I.V.A). This tax will be accrued on commissions of "LST" for buyers, using the rates prevailing on the date of the auction.
XV. DATA PROTECTION. In order to the "Ley 15/1999 de 13 de Diciembre, de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal", the client authorize "LST", the inclusion of their data in a customer file, and for the promotion by "LST" of the objects at all times the rights of access, rectification or deletion of personal data by sending the appropriate request to the following address: LA SUITE SUBASTAS, C/ Conde Salvatierra, 8, 08006. Barcelona.
XVI. EXPRESS LEGAL JURISDICTION. These Conditions are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the rules of Spanish law. The mere act of participating in the auction as seller, buyer or bidder, implies acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
Sales operations are understood to be held at the registered office of "LST", C/ Conde de Salvatierra, 8, 08006. Any dispute shall be taken to the competent courts of Barcelona, expressly waiving any other jurisdiction, in accordance with Article 55 of the "Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil".
