Featured Chest Box - Can you please help with techinque

Hello,

I inherited this nice chest box from my grandmother several decades ago!! I remember that she used to tell me the technique used in the creation of this little work of art, but at that time I did not pay attention to all what she said to me on this treasure

All I know is that this came from Spain; it is probably early 19th Century and is finely carved on a type of wood named sumac.

Can anyone throw a bit of light or views about this treasure?

Thanks!!

 

Hello, please do click on the full image button so that we can see your images better

 

It's a beautiful piece though!

 

The work looks to be Pyrography or wood burning, and very nicely done at that!! If you look at the bottom of your post where it says "Edit", you can click on that.....then the very TOP image says "post all images FULL SIZE".....click on THAT and they will then repost....FULL SIZE!!!!! Many Thanks!!! There is lots of information on the web about Pyrography across the web too!!!!

 

Beautiful piece, Luis. It looks like Spanish folk art modelled after Renaissance chests and cabinets.
I took the liberty of adding some of your photos full image so everyone can see.

 

I'm seriously in love with your treasure. Thank you for sharing

 

I LOVE IT !!! .. The designs, all the compartments and drawers, what a lovely item !! ... Joy. PS .. What are the measurements?

 

Luis, that is lovely! What a delightful thing to inherit!

 

Thanks for your responses. This chest in inches is 11 x 16.5 x 9.5. Thanks Any Jewelry for enlargin the photos, I am still getting familiarized with the use of the tools.

 

I'm not saying it is but it reminds me a great deal of Indo Portuguese work and early European, when you do pin down it's origin and date I'm in no doubt it will be worth many many thousands. The box is called a "fall front cabinet" I don't think it's younger than 250 years but could well be much older and in amazing condition. What an amazing gift, I am very jealous

 

Maybe a close up photo of the decoration would tell us more, I doubt it's poker work, it's either hot sand or ink.

 

You're right, I was thinking ink.
Indo-Portuguese is not too far off in general style, though very different in execution. There is an Iberian theme here, although the first chests/cabinets in this style were made in the Low Countries. Those were under Spanish rule during the first half of the 16th century, and many craftsmen from the Low Countries were employed by the Spanish court.

I don't know if the hardware is that old, but I'll leave that to the furniture people. @verybrad maybe?
Whatever the age, it is a gorgeous box.

 

I do know it's called a Vargueno, traveling writing desk, usually accompanied by a stand when at home, typically Spanish colonial, but made in other places as well. I've asked my conservator friends for an assessment, it's a specialty of theirs. Stay tuned!

 

I have taken a close look at the original pictures and do believe this to be pyrography or poker work. Poker work does date back to very early in Europe and this could possibly be quite old. The hardware is hand forged so the early 19th century date given by the OP could fit. It could be even earlier. The style of the artwork and themes would appear to fit with a very early date. However, it could be a 19th century example emulating an earlier style. Here are a couple circa 1700 examples ....




Here is a 16th century example from Italy...



I think this is worth having someone with more expertise have a look.

 

It's either been made to look very old or it is very old ie much older than the above examples, around 1600-1640

 

Hello,

Thanks for all of your insights! I did not think it was very valuable, at first I though it was another common piece of furniture. I heard about the name of the item as a travelling chest or Bargueño, it did not come with a stand, probably had one but might have gotten lost .

I am posting a couple of close-ups as suggested; unfortunately I cannot upload better resolution due to some restrictions on the size of the files; as mentioned by a couple of members, and doing a closer inspection I agree that the technique might be applied ink. Another interesting thing about the item is the nice smell of the wood. I do not know if this type of wood (sumac) has a nice and particular smell.

verybrad, these are really glorious piecs of furniture!

Thanks to all of you for your valuable feedback!

 

https://picclick.com/Magnificent-Late-17th-Century-Spanish-Colonial-Domed-201736783334.html

 

Have a look at the lock and key

 

Thank you ravers, that is exactly what I mean, that is the way I have always seen hardware of that period and earlier.
As far as I know, that blackened hardware, as seen on this box, came in much later. 19th century maybe? That is why I thought it would be significant for dating this box.

 

As far as I know, hand forged hardware has a scale that forms on it as a part of the heating process, this is black and if not removed by filing it off says on for 100's of years. This was later faked on machine made objects to make them look hand forged. The way to tell, the forged black is very very hard to remove and is often rough to the touch.