Spanish Travel Cabinet Said "bargueno" With Rich 17th Century Decor

Total height: 137 cm Width: 104 cm Depth: 43 cm The Bargueno is one of Spain's original contributions to European furniture. Elegant cabinet whose structure is that of a chest mounted here on its original base. It is also called Vargueno, from the name of the town of Varga, near Toledo, which is the main production center. It was the favorite piece of furniture of the conquistador or the missionary, when it came to carrying administrative, diplomatic or personal effects on expeditions to the New World. The bargueno It has beautiful openwork wrought iron fittings on the front and sides. Its panels are dovetailed and its lateral interlocking facade is closed by a double hasp lock. Side wrought iron handles adorn the bargueno. The open flap rests on two zippers and reveals fourteen drawers and two leaves with architectural decoration. The upper register has a row of four drawers. The drawer knobs are in the shape of a scallop shell, a reminder of the portable chests used by pilgrims on their way to Compostela. In the middle register, two side leaves frame two drawers themselves framing two other superimposed drawers. In the lower register, the central drawer is framed on either side by two superimposed drawers. They take up the same decorative theme as the upper registers. The drawers have bone and ivory inlays in a geometric order while the two side leaves have an architectural decoration. The quality of the patterns and the diversity of the figures make this bargueno an important piece. The base The base has a base that is not original. 19th century This cabinet, which has become very rare today, is a piece of furniture very characteristic of Spanish art and has not been developed in any other country. Object of covetousness, it was both ceremonial furniture that was kept open in the sumptuous rooms of the palace, or travel chest as evidenced by the side handles and the imposing ironwork. This cabinet has not been restored, there are some gaps (see photos)