1985.R.470.a-d, Wooden chest inlaid with ivory, 17th century

Of typical architectural vargueño form, this small cabinet would have originally rested on an arcaded trestle stand or on another cabinet instead of having feet. Vargueños often have fall-fronts which double as writing surfaces and prevent the drawers from falling out when carried. In this one, the iron drawer studs act as drawer pulls and are reminiscent of the larger studs used on 15th century Spanish doors. Pierced iron mounts decorate the borders and are used as backplates for the iron handles on each side. The molded wood and ivory decoration is architectural rather than anthropomorphic, for Spanish decorative arts continued to be influenced by the Islamic aversion to human and animal representation even after the Moors were expelled in 1492.

Dallas Museum of Art. The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1985), 166.

Until 1985: Emery Reves (1904-1983) and Wendy Reves (1916-2007) (owned jointly), La Pausa, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France [1]

From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, gift of Wendy Reves (1916-2007) [1]

[1] According to: Olivier Meslay and Martha MacLeod, From Chanel to Reves (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 2015), 4-5.

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