Mallorcan chest of drawers, c.1900. Palorosa wood... Lot 9

Mallorcan chest of drawers, c.1900. Palorosa wood and metal fittings. Measurements: 81 x 111 x 50 cm. Raised on four curved legs with final hoof, the piece of furniture presents a sinuous front plan, which determines a slight frontal bulge. The lower edges on three sides are decorated with curves contrasted with counter-curves and protrusions, outlining both these elements and the fronts, which undulate upwards. The sides follow these same curves. The front has two large drawers and two smaller ones at the top, all decorated with fruit marquetry with vegetal forms and borders, in which are inserted the handles and keyholes, decorated with classicist-inspired vegetal and geometric elements. The top panel with curved profiles, sides and front, once again repeats the fruit marquetry of vegetal forms and borders. Formally, this chest of drawers is in a transitional style between late Baroque and Rococo, as the design still retains straight forms and the decoration is still subordinate to the structure. Likewise, the curved mitred forms are still reminiscent of the mixtilinear forms of the Baroque, maintaining the symmetrical composition, although an asymmetrical pattern can be found in the corner beading. However, the curved front plan that determines a bulge in the elevation is already clearly Rococo, as is the predominance of sinuous lines in the decoration. Historically, Mallorcan furniture has stood out for receiving stylistic influences from numerous European areas thanks to the buoyant trade in the area, among which the influence of Catalan furniture stands out. Technically, it also stands out for its quality, both in terms of the materials used and the design.