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Spanish Colonial-South American Wooden Casket

Identification Number: 609
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Description

Spanish Colonial-South American Wooden Casket

Origin: Pasto, Colombia
Period: Circa 17th Century
Material: Barniz de Pasto (Varnished Resin of Mopa-Mopa Tree), Silver Hinges

This rare 17th-century wooden casket exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Spanish Colonial South America. Featuring a gracefully curved, domed lid, the casket is painted in gold and polychrome Barniz de Pasto, a traditional varnished resin derived from the Mopa-Mopa tree. It is further enhanced by silver hinges and a padlock clasp, with the lock crafted in the form of a serpent or dragon head, adding a touch of mythical allure.

Decorative Highlights:

  • Inspired Craftsmanship: This work is considered an emulation of Latin and Hispanic-American interpretations of eastern lacquerwork, akin to the Japanese Namban and Indo-Portuguese caskets.
  • Mythical and Natural Motifs: The casket is richly adorned with a blend of naturalistic and mythical scenes, including:
    • Vegetal and floral designs interspersed with native and carnation flowers.
    • Playful depictions of exotic birds, vultures, wolves, squirrels, and lions.
    • Mythical creatures such as unicorns, griffins, and unusual horned, turban-headed figures with snail or shell-like elements.
    • Shield-like motifs with flower wreaths scattered across the surface.

This intricate blend of natural and fantastical imagery creates a vivid and symbolic narrative, showcasing the artistic and cultural synthesis of the Spanish Colonial period.

This Spanish Colonial casket is not only a testament to the artistic legacy of 17th-century South America but also a prized collectible for connoisseurs of historical and decorative arts.

 

Condition

Very good, some miner cracks on the edges of the casket, there is a small cut to the wooden curved shaped top which support the lid, the inside lock mechanism is been removed or missing.

Provence

The EU Art Market.

References

References for Collectors:

Oriente Ocidente, Por mares nunca dantes navegados (East West, Seas Never Sailed Through Before), Manuel Castilho, 2006.
For comparable caskets with similar colours and gilt border decorations, see Lot No. 14, catalogued on pages 62–67.

The Arts in Latin America, 1492–1820, Joseph J. Rishel and Stratton-Pruitt, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Yale University Press, 2006.
Refer to similar works catalogued as Lot Nos. I-22, I-23, and I-125 on pages 131, 132, and 134.