Work of the Viceroyalty of Peru, late 18th -... Lot 43

Work of the Viceroyalty of Peru, late 18th - early 19th century Two trunks, called "Petaca", of Mudejar style made of strips of leather and skins assembled in different ornamental patterns and decorated with leather straps following geometric shapes. The decorations on the four sides and the lids of the trunks are in the Spanish Mudejar style. The leather frames are reinforced with wooden strips and the lids are closed with metal locks. Leather handles on the sides. Height 34,5 Width 42,5 Length 72 cm. Height. 34 Width. 44 Length. 74 cm. (Misses and accidents). Provenance : former collection of the castle of Saint-Chartier, Indre. Related works : - Chest called "petaca", c. 1800, Art Museum of Denver, United States (Donation John C. Freyer - n° 1974.348). - Briefcase known as "Iberian", 18th century, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, (Donation Gaston Vuitton - n° 987.43) "VOGUEZ, VOLEZ, VOYAGEZ" by Gaston Vuitton This type of trunk is characteristic of the methods of transporting the personal belongings of the colonists who left to conquer the New World. Given the rugged environment of the Altiplano and the Andes, these petacas were built to withstand arduous journeys by alpaca and oxen. Unfortunately, few examples have survived. Nevertheless, everything leads us to believe that the traditional equipment of the first conquistadors sent by Charles V was adapted during the 18th century to the local constraints. These leather trunks are thus the result of Spanish craftsmanship and vernacular techniques. In France, it is the collection of trunks, passionately gathered by Gaston Vuitton, which resurrects the memory of this type of petaca. If, "compared to his father and grandfather, the originality of Gaston is to have resurrected the memory of luggage and, through them, travel," his reputation as a generous collector is not overrated. In 1989, he bequeathed to the Museum of Decorative Arts of Paris a very close trunk, rare testimony of this spirit of conquest which animated the men of the Viceroyalty of Peru.