A fine and rare Spanish bone inlaid painted and parcel-gilt walnut and elmwood vargueño on stand mid 17th century

the upper section with a fall-front applied with geometric preserves with pierced iron mounts backed by red velvet within a silvered metal thread border applied with stylised flowerheads opening to reveal a fitted interior with twelve drawers flanking a door opening to reveal two long and two short drawers, the whole applied with geometric panels painted with flowers and leaves interposed by spirally turned columns, the lower section with a rectangular moulded top above two deep drawers and two doors with an iron handle on each side on later flattened bun feet

Old marks, chips and scratches as visible form the photo and commensurate with age. There are traces of gilding on some of the mounts. Some of the decoration has been refreshed. Some old very minor cracks generally. There is a large rectangular patch to the top of the upper section and a replacement along the rear edge. There are some minor losses to some of the pierced metal mounts but this does not detract from the piece. There is old insect damage especially to the top which has some areas of infill. The top of the lower section has several scratches and gouges. The blocks at the rear are later replacements and the rear left stile is a complete replacement and part of the rear right stile has been replaced. The bottom left door is off its hinges and will need restoring. In overall good conserved condition. Rare to have a vargueño on its original stand. Recommended.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
F. Windish-Graetz, Möbel europas, Romanik-Gotik, Vol I, München, 1982, p. 254, fig.  216, for a related vargueño on stand very similar to this piece, in The Hispanic Society of America, New York, Inv. Nr. S. 46, reproduced here in fig.1.
L. Feduci, El Mueble espanol, Barcelona, 1969, p. 123, fig. 106, for a related vargueño in the National Archeological Museum, Madrid, reproduced here in fig. 2.
Christopher Wilk, ed. Western Furniture 1350 to the present day in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, London, 1996, pp. 54-55 ,

The escritorio later called vargueño derives from the Catalan hembra, a bridal chest which had two large doors at the front each concealing a series of drawers. The escritorio was used not only as a writing desk but also for storage of papers and implements. In the early 16th century they were inlaid with hispano-moresque geometrical motifs in bone, in a style known as mudéjar. As Spanish craftsmen became more familiar with Classical  architecture and ornament as a result of the translation of Sebastian Serlio's, L'Archittetura (1552), the inside of these escritorio were decorated with classical ornament and they were also gilded and in bright colours with the bone decorated with Indian ink.

The inside of this escritorio is architectural wih Baroque aedicules (framed openings flanked by columns, supporting a broken pediment). It is also lavishly decorated on the outside with iron decoration and locks on a velvet ground. They became known as vargueños from around 1870.

It is rare for the vargueños to be on their original stand as the offered lot.