Three-leaf folding screen; Spain, 18th and 19th century.

Three-leaf folding screen; Spain, XVIII and XIX century.
Guadamecí polychrome.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 174 x 58 x 1,5 cm (each leaf).
Screen with a wooden structure of three leaves, each one of them covered with leather. The central leaf presents a more complex design with a large naturalistic garland polychrome on the leather. The guadamecil or guadamecí, also known as Cordoba leather, was a product that originated in North Africa and was introduced in Spain in the 9th century. In Spain, these embossed leather tapestries were known as guadamecí, referring to the Libyan city of Ghadames, while cordobanes ("Cordovan") meant soft goatskin. In 1316, a guild of Cuir de Cordoue (Cordoba leather) existed in Barcelona. Spanish golden leather was popular until the early 17th century. In the 15th or 16th century, the technique reached the Netherlands, first in Flanders and Brabant, where it developed further. Although there were craftsmen in several cities (such as Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent), the main center of gilt leather craftsmanship was Mechelen.