Altar Table
A rare Batangas 'Olympic' altar table
Estimate: PHP 1,000,000 - 1,200,000
19th century
Batangas
Balayong, kamagong and lanite inlays, brass hardware
92.5 x 129 x 63 cm (36 x 50 x 25 in)
Provenance:
Formerly from the family of Rosita Mercado of Lemery, Batangas
A type of decorative running ornament that features two intertwining bands that repeat in a pattern of crossing intervals was found in ancient Assyrian architecture, continued through the classical world of Greek and Roman culture, then became known in 18th century France as guilloche and spread through the Georgian period in England. It symbolized unity and eternity. In furniture, they were often botanically inspired, but also appeared as waves, snowflakes, ribbons and - in the case of this altar table - as interlocking rings colloquially known in the Philippines as ‘Olympic’ motif, in reference to Olympic ring symbol originally created in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin.
Positioned in the most prestigious place in the main living room of a colonial house, it was on altar tables like this wherein the family’s venerated santo images were enshrined and prayed upon; prayer books, rosaries, candles, santo vestments, and other important paraphernalia were kept in the drawers. It is made entirely of dark balayong wood (Afzelia Rhomboidea), a type of highly prized rosewood. It has a reddish brown color that tends to darken even more with age and has natural luster. Very difficult to carve due to its durability and interlocking grain. A solid one-piece top sits on a carcase composed of two smaller drawers above one larger drawer, all fitted with silver escutcheons and hand-hammered iron drop bail handles, and inlaid with fine borders of kamagong and lanite wood looping below the keyhole and acutely concaving at the corners. The Olympic motif carved exceptionally in low-relief is featured on all four side flanges that attenuate downward with an ogee shaped extension, and is reprised on the front and side aprons to create a perfectly elegant piece of colonial furniture. The sides have carved raised center panels - another feature of high quality craftsmanship. All raised on square tapered legs.
Lot 188 of the Salcedo Auctions auction on 18 March 2023. Please see www.salcedoauctions.com for more information.
Altar Table
A rare Batangas 'Olympic' altar table
Estimate: PHP 1,000,000 - 1,200,000
19th century
Batangas
Balayong, kamagong and lanite inlays, brass hardware
92.5 x 129 x 63 cm (36 x 50 x 25 in)
Provenance:
Formerly from the family of Rosita Mercado of Lemery, Batangas
A type of decorative running ornament that features two intertwining bands that repeat in a pattern of crossing intervals was found in ancient Assyrian architecture, continued through the classical world of Greek and Roman culture, then became known in 18th century France as guilloche and spread through the Georgian period in England. It symbolized unity and eternity. In furniture, they were often botanically inspired, but also appeared as waves, snowflakes, ribbons and - in the case of this altar table - as interlocking rings colloquially known in the Philippines as ‘Olympic’ motif, in reference to Olympic ring symbol originally created in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin.
Positioned in the most prestigious place in the main living room of a colonial house, it was on altar tables like this wherein the family’s venerated santo images were enshrined and prayed upon; prayer books, rosaries, candles, santo vestments, and other important paraphernalia were kept in the drawers. It is made entirely of dark balayong wood (Afzelia Rhomboidea), a type of highly prized rosewood. It has a reddish brown color that tends to darken even more with age and has natural luster. Very difficult to carve due to its durability and interlocking grain. A solid one-piece top sits on a carcase composed of two smaller drawers above one larger drawer, all fitted with silver escutcheons and hand-hammered iron drop bail handles, and inlaid with fine borders of kamagong and lanite wood looping below the keyhole and acutely concaving at the corners. The Olympic motif carved exceptionally in low-relief is featured on all four side flanges that attenuate downward with an ogee shaped extension, and is reprised on the front and side aprons to create a perfectly elegant piece of colonial furniture. The sides have carved raised center panels - another feature of high quality craftsmanship. All raised on square tapered legs.
Lot 188 of the Salcedo Auctions auction on 18 March 2023. Please see www.salcedoauctions.com for more information.