Screen; Spanish work, possibly Cordoba; second third of the eighteenth century.

Screen: Spanish work, possibly Cordoba; second third of the eighteenth century.
Embossed leather.
Measurements: 236 x 59 cm (each leaf); 236 x 237 cm (total).
Screen composed of three articulated panels, decorated in both sections (upper and lower) with a symmetrical and richly ornamented composition. The leather support, worked by embossing and polychrome techniques, presents a neutral background on which stand out, on each sheet, two vertical scenes delimited by baroque frames of stylized foliage and floral motifs in gilded relief.
At the top of each panel is a large vase with exuberant flowers and fruit, executed with a remarkable sense of volume and color. The flowers, exotic birds and fruit elements suggest a symbolic interpretation of abundance and exoticism, themes very present in Hispanic baroque aesthetics.
The lower part of each leaf represents male figures of allegorical or ethnic character, dressed in clothes that refer to different geographical or cultural contexts, possibly representations of the four continents known to Europe at the time, a common iconography in screens and decorative arts of the period. These figures are arranged on simulated pedestals, which reinforces their statuary character and symbolic value. Each seems to represent an idealized figure, possibly mythological, historical or allegorical, emphasizing the cultural diversity of the world known to Europe in the 18th century.
The screen combines decorative techniques typical of the Andalusian Baroque, with an exceptional mastery of leather embossing and an exquisite application of polychrome and gilding. Cordoba was a nerve center of this technique, heir to the Mudejar and Renaissance traditions, which reached its technical maturity in the 18th century. Cordovan embossed leather, known as "guadamecí", was used in both furniture and decorative objects, and this screen is a clear example of the artistic and utilitarian application of this technique.