Comoda
Comoda
Last Quarter, 19th Century, Tayabas Quezon
Narra with Carabao bone, Kamagong and Lanite inlays
108.5 x 110.5 x 49 cm (42 1/2 x 43 1/4 x 19 1/4 in)
Lot 121 of the Salcedo Auctions auction on 10 March 2018. Please see salcedoauctions.com for more details.
Comoda was a low upright cabinet that was a regular feature in the bedrooms of 19th century Philippine homes. They were used to store clothes and table linens among others, and to hold santos or religious images venerated by the family. The archetype had two doors only, some had additional two drawers either above or below the door, while the bigger examples had three drawers above the door. In all the cases with drawers, they had always been arranged in linear / straight configuration. Not in the case of this comoda here believed to be a work of the famed but elusive Quezon master. It has 3 drawers: on top are two small drawers, then a larger drawer below, and then the two doors. Very unusual configuration. There is an additional drawer floor fixed on each level, a feature only seen in highend pieces. There is no fascia (senepa) that usually supports the door platform for more height; instead the perfectly-shaped bun feet lift it only a few inches off the floor, giving the cabinet a squat, delicate bearing. Each drawer has very fine twin border inlay in kamagong and lanite, and sparse but bigger reel bone inlay inside. Bone inlays in sawtooth pattern surround the keyhole fitted with original brass escutcheon, though missing on one of the keyholes. The center of the larger drawer is further decorated with lozenge-shaped bone inlays strung by kamagong inlays forming a swerving lei-like pattern. Cshaped brass handles are old replacements. Similar lei-like inlays surround the inner edge of the raised oval of the doors, with more elaborate stellar flowers decorating the center. Turned kamagong door knobs are old replacements. Trace of rounded keyhole on the door can be noted. The shelf inside is made of tanguile wood and is original. Running bone lozenges underline the whole frame of the cabinet. No restorations done on few missing inlays. The onepiece top is supported by 4 posts which have been ringed, turned and reeded. The front posts are in stained narra wood, while the rear posts are in kamagong wood – one of which has a fixed crack near the top, but all posts are original. This rare and unusual comoda is in original good condition and patina. A true work of a master!
Estimate: PHP 180,000 - 200,000
Comoda
Comoda
Last Quarter, 19th Century, Tayabas Quezon
Narra with Carabao bone, Kamagong and Lanite inlays
108.5 x 110.5 x 49 cm (42 1/2 x 43 1/4 x 19 1/4 in)
Lot 121 of the Salcedo Auctions auction on 10 March 2018. Please see salcedoauctions.com for more details.
Comoda was a low upright cabinet that was a regular feature in the bedrooms of 19th century Philippine homes. They were used to store clothes and table linens among others, and to hold santos or religious images venerated by the family. The archetype had two doors only, some had additional two drawers either above or below the door, while the bigger examples had three drawers above the door. In all the cases with drawers, they had always been arranged in linear / straight configuration. Not in the case of this comoda here believed to be a work of the famed but elusive Quezon master. It has 3 drawers: on top are two small drawers, then a larger drawer below, and then the two doors. Very unusual configuration. There is an additional drawer floor fixed on each level, a feature only seen in highend pieces. There is no fascia (senepa) that usually supports the door platform for more height; instead the perfectly-shaped bun feet lift it only a few inches off the floor, giving the cabinet a squat, delicate bearing. Each drawer has very fine twin border inlay in kamagong and lanite, and sparse but bigger reel bone inlay inside. Bone inlays in sawtooth pattern surround the keyhole fitted with original brass escutcheon, though missing on one of the keyholes. The center of the larger drawer is further decorated with lozenge-shaped bone inlays strung by kamagong inlays forming a swerving lei-like pattern. Cshaped brass handles are old replacements. Similar lei-like inlays surround the inner edge of the raised oval of the doors, with more elaborate stellar flowers decorating the center. Turned kamagong door knobs are old replacements. Trace of rounded keyhole on the door can be noted. The shelf inside is made of tanguile wood and is original. Running bone lozenges underline the whole frame of the cabinet. No restorations done on few missing inlays. The onepiece top is supported by 4 posts which have been ringed, turned and reeded. The front posts are in stained narra wood, while the rear posts are in kamagong wood – one of which has a fixed crack near the top, but all posts are original. This rare and unusual comoda is in original good condition and patina. A true work of a master!
Estimate: PHP 180,000 - 200,000