17th Century Furniture (part 22 of 31)

Portuguese Styles
As in Spain, Portuguese handmade furniture remained traditional until the middle of the century. Chestnut was the most popular native wood, however, as the century advanced , imported Brazilian rosewood, or palisander, became popular - the first American tropical wood to be used by European cabinet makers.
Rosewood is easy to work, and cabinet makers produced turned legs and stretchers in bulb and saucer shapes and lavishly turned and decorated bedsteads.
Cupboards and vast chests of drawers, originally intended for monastic churches, were the most highly decorated pieces of Portuguese furniture, now reproduction furniture, at first, with carvings that imitated the geometric decoration on Moorish tiles. The mid century cabinet or contador was one of the most characteristic pieces of Portuguese furniture. A contador was a cabinet placed on a highly elaborate stand, which was decorated to match the upper cabinet.
High backed chairs were similar to Spanish versions, with stamped and gilded leather upholstery held in place by brass studs. This remained the standard covering for seats and backs well into the 18th century.
In around 1680, a new type of chair developed. It had a high, shaped back, turned legs and arms, and a heavy scrolled front stretcher. The ancient motifs of shells and garlands often decorated the backs of the chairs.
Non fitted furniture made by Portuguese craftsmen in the colonial empire contained elements of European and local styles. In Goa, European-style, low backed chairs were made in indigenous ebony. The heavy, spiral-turned stretchers used on colonial Portuguese, or Indo-Portuguese chairs, tables, chests, and bed frames drew inspiration from Indian cabinet making traditions.

Spanish Vargueno
This cabinet is made of walnut, decorated with bone, ivory, gold sheet inlays and paint. This type of furniture was produced in the southern Spanish city of Vargas.
The fall front is decorated with intricate iron mounts, typical of the Spanish decorative tradition. The top section opens to reveal drawers and pigeon holes. The bottom section displays strong Arab influences, including the geometric inlay pattern.