An ivory-inlaid wooden cabinet and table, Spain, 17th-19th century

the cabinet of rectangular form, turned iron handles at either end with open-worked vase-form lock plate and hinges with old velvet backing to the front drop-down panel, the inside surface of which decorated with a central six-pointed star comprised of wood and ivory micromosaic, flanked by four smaller corresponding stars, opening to reveal a variety of different sized drawers; ten short, three long and three deep with front niches comprising ivory and ebony chequerboard panels, the central drawer with a gilded shell-form dome, all decorated with micromosaic flowers and ebony and ivory-chevroned borders, the bottom centre panel and central deep drawer with turned ivory columns, sitting upon later table with wood and ivory-inlaid scrollwork on the base panel, the sides with ivory and wood-inlaid eight-pointed star motifs 

In good overall condition, some old repair to the exterior of the cabinet, some small replacement parts to the interior drawers and panels, scratches and abrasions to extremities, as viewed.
"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."

The present lot is a magnificent example of post Reconquista inlaid woodwork. Its carefully decorated micromosaic patterns depicting stars, flowers and geometric motifs can be directly associated with examples from the Nasrid period, when this technique was dutifully practised and perfected.

The Islamic tradition of inlaying ivory into walnut dates back to the Umayyad period and is recorded in both Spain and North Africa. The oldest extant example is the minbar of the Kutubiye Mosque in Marrakesh, made in Córdoba in 1137 for the Almoravid ruler 'Ali bin Yusuf bin Tashufin (r. 1106-42). This magnificent structure emulated an earlier minbar known only from literary accounts, that of the Great Mosque of Córdoba commissioned by Al-Hakim II (A.H.366 / A.D.976), which is recorded as decorated with inlay of red and yellow sandalwood, ebony, ivory and Indian aloewood (Ecker 2004, p.162).

The inlay on Nasrid examples is typically made up of polygonal tessarae of ivory, bone, metal, wood and mother-of-pearl arranged in geometrical patterns. The large eight-pointed stars formed out of interlocking squares are diagnostic of the group and can be seen on the majority of Nasrid pieces that survive. These are mostly in museums in Granada, and include a pair of cabinet doors at the Palacio de los Infantes (Dodds 1992, pp.372-3, no.118), a chest in the Museo Arqueológico y Etnológico (Granada 1995, p.454, no.198), and other examples in the Museo de la Alhambra (ibid, pp.427-8, no.181).

The present lot belongs to the group of Nasrid-inspired micromosaic work that persisted after the Christian Reconquista and played an important part in the decoration of post-Renaissance furniture in Spain and Italy. Islamic influence is particularly evident in the stylised depictions of a central mihrab, lateral niches and meticulously carved moorish arches, all of which evoke the architectural traditions of al-Andalus.