Writing desk, Spain, Castile, c. 1600

Writing desk, Spain, Castile, c. 1600
Polychrome walnut wood and pine structure; iron handles and hardware.
Rear possibly back.
Measurements: 52 x 93 x 43 cm.

Castilian desk with pine wood structure and made of walnut. The sample, covered by a sober hinged lid devoid of decoration, has a front of drawers arranged in horizontal registers, decorated with scrolls that still drink from the Mannerist tradition. The drawer of the pastera, in the lower central third, shows an arcature that could be related to the regional variants of central Spain, as well as the ringed handles in the form of a teardrop, which appear, to mention an example, on desks in the Museo Casa de Cervantes in Valladolid.

During the first half of the 16th century in Spain, the writing desk was an unusual piece of furniture. However, at the beginning of the 17th century its use expanded rapidly, becoming a symbol of status and luxury among the more favored classes. This type of piece, made of wood, was designed both for writing and for storing documents, stationery and valuables.

Originally, desks were intended to be easily transportable, so they did not have their own base and could be placed on any surface. Over time, specific supports for these pieces of furniture emerged, such as the so-called "bridge stand" or the "locker".