Bargueño; Spain, 17th century.

Bargueño; Spain, XVII century.
Walnut wood, bone, inlaid. Partially gilded and polychrome.
The foot is from a later period.
Measurements: 61 x 90 x 49,5 cm; 84,5 x 73 x 51,5 cm (foot).
Bargueño or wastebasket of covered sample, located on a support of the type known as "foot of bridge" by its form, made in carved wood and decorated with reliefs of architectural and vegetable elements of classicist influence, vases, finishes in sphere and torsas columns (two greater to the sides of the bridge and other two flanking each one of them, combining these last grooved columns in the superior part with torsos elements in the inferior one). On the exterior, the wastebasket is decorated with cut-out metallic appliqués -with simplified geometric and vegetal motifs- arranged on textile, as well as handles, shell-shaped nails, knobs and a central bolt with architectural elements with clear baroque reminiscences.
When the front is opened, the interior sample can be appreciated, organized in three levels with several streets that do not coincide with each other, with drawers of simple panels and shell-shaped knobs, others articulated by columns, and small chapels with architectural motifs on the front, combining gilded elements with polychrome.
This type of furniture is one of the most common and appreciated typologies of the Castilian school of the 17th century, whose influence continued well into the 20th century. Variations were centered on the exterior decoration and the internal arrangement of drawers and compartments. The strong personality of the Spanish style in this century limited the penetration of outside influences, especially French, due in part to the diplomatic situation of the time, in contrast to the predominance of French models in the rest of Europe.
The 17th century in Spain was a period of decadence, a circumstance that was also reflected in the furniture. The levels of luxury of other countries were not reached, partly due to the pragmatics against luxury dictated by the monarchy. However, Spanish Baroque furniture presents a remarkable quality, great personality and a special interest from the typological and functional point of view, giving priority to use over ornamentation. Likewise, there is a growing valuation of furniture compared to the previous century: the inventories of goods show significant changes, with furniture, in the time of Charles II, reaching prices even higher than tapestries.