Renaissance balcony bench, Catalonia or Aragon. Spain, ca. 1600

Renaissance balcony bench, Catalonia or Aragon. Spain, ca. 1600
Walnut and boxwood. Bone inlay. Brass applications.
Renaissance inlay decoration.
It shows marks of use and wear. Leather handle with damage.
Measurements: 130 x 140 x 60 cm.

This Catalan-Aragonese bench-arch, dated around 1600, is decorated with a meticulous work of geometric marquetry, consisting of inlaying small plates of bone and other wood forming geometric motifs. This decoration has its roots in the Granada inlay, a block inlay of geometric motifs with Islamic roots. These inlays combine mainly bone and various woods, since these were the main materials for Hispano-Muslim furniture. Block inlay has its origins in Islamic Spain, and its technique consists of making a block by combining various woods to form a specific design, and then cutting sections that are inlaid into the furniture. In this way, mosaic plates or strips are obtained, like the ones we see here.

Formally it is an ark raised on four claw feet, on which a wide skirt rests. Its front and sides are decorated with recessed square panels, alternating with molded surfaces with an architectural appearance. The chest remains closed, so it acts as a seat, and has a back with the same characteristics as the rest of the piece, culminating in a crest with a heraldic motif with the surname "Del Bosque".

The chest was the most important container in Catalan houses since the 15th century. It was brought by the bride to the marriage, in fact, it was the patrimony that the bride's family gave to the groom. This was part of an exchange of wealth between the contracting families. Its ornamentation was a testimony of the social and economic level to which the new bride belonged.