Olot bed head from the second half of the 18th... Lot n° 26

Olot bed head from the second half of the 18th century. Carved, polychromed and gilded wood. Measurements: 176 x 157 cm. The Olot bed is a typical type of Catalan furniture from the second quarter of the 18th century. The headboard in question has beautiful polychrome work, representing three angels holding in their hands a border framing the Holy Family in the central part, surrounded by borders in geometric shapes and borders of flowers in gilt and bright colours to enhance the scene. In Spain in the 18th century, the European type of bed was adopted. New production centres appeared, the main ones being located in Olot, Vic, Valencia and Mallorca. They are known today as Olot beds and are characterised by their large headboards, generally more or less pyramidal in shape, which were stuccoed and painted. Those from the first half of the century are simple, and later the cabriole leg appeared, extending upwards to form half-height posts, also in cabriole. The headboard of these beds usually stood alone, and was fixed directly to the wall. It was made of soft woods such as white or black poplar and birch. In the early days they were polychromed in a single colour or marbled, and the profiles were gilded; in the second quarter of the 18th century, religious images appeared, set in a reserve of wavy contours. In the last quarter of the century, the legs and posts were turned and the decorative motifs depicted on the headpieces became courtly, and the profiles became lighter with rococo motifs.