Indo-Portuguese cabinet called Contador In three... Lot 181

Indo-Portuguese cabinet called Contador In three parts, opening in front by ten drawers on four rows. It is entirely inlaid with exotic woods and ivory forming a decoration of interlaced circles centered with stars. Entrances of locks, angles and astragals in openwork brass. Pull handles and side holds in twisted brass. The uprights are decorated with brass nails with hemispherical heads. Resting on feet representing mermaids with ivory inlaid eyes and supported by cubes. Probably Goa. 17th / 18th century. H. 118 cm - W. 59,5 cm - D. 39,5 cm (accidents, missing parts, restorations and redone parts). Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the economic development and enrichment of certain European countries or cities were closely linked to their policy of expansion based on the government of provinces or trading posts, most often located in distant and exotic lands, which were used for the shipment of products and objects of all types to Europe. At that time, the province of Goa, located on the southwest coast of India, formed with three other provinces the Portuguese colonies of India. The interactions between the local culture and the western culture were very numerous and some furniture and art objects testify nowadays of these different influences. This is the case of the cabinet we are presenting, stylistically datable to the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the following century, which is characteristic of the best achievements of this type. Its general composition, its inlaid decoration of starry circles, as well as its base formed by anthropomorphic figures is typical of Indo-Portuguese art. Similar models can be found in the following major collections: Museo Abade de Baçal in Branganca, Museo Nacional de Arte Antiguo in Lisbon, Victoria and Albert Museum in London (reproduced in A. Jaffer, Luxury Goods from India, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p.5