Unknown artist, Cabinet, 1600s. Wood, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, and bone; 36½ × 36¼ × 19¾ in. Gift of the Collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 2015.564A-N.

height: 36.5 in, 92.7100 cm; width: 36.25 in, 92.0750 cm; depth: 19.75 in, 50.1650 cm

Mayer Center, Latin American Art

Latin American Art

This object is currently on view

Chests were the most common furniture form in Spain and the colonies with portable writing chests that could be placed on stands or tables being particularly popular. Furniture forms veneered with fine wood marquetry had been produced in Spain for centuries with strong influence from Islamic furniture traditions. The use of mother of pearl and tortoise shell became popular in marquetry after the opening of new trade routes brought Asian decorative arts to Europe and the Americas and as a result of the accessibility of these raw materials in the Americas after the Spanish conquest.

--Donna Pierce, 2015

Provenance research is on-going at the Denver Art Museum. Please e-mail provenance@denverartmuseum.org, if you have questions, or if you have additional information to share with us.