Canterano; Catalonia, Torroella, 18th century. Walnut... Lot 5

Canterano; Catalonia, Torroella, 18th century. Walnut wood. Measurements: 118 x 127 x 62 cm. Bureau canterano made of walnut wood. The piece of furniture consists of a closed body with three registers defined by continuous drawers. All of them have the same ornamentation based on the expressiveness of the grain of the material, the carving of the mouldings and the metal appliqués of the locks and handles, contrasting with the mixtilinear profile of the skirt in the lower area. Each of the drawers has two handles at the ends, and in the centre there is a metal appliqué that serves as a lock, ornamented with a profile of vegetal motifs. The upper body is closed with a tilted hinged lid, and houses a desk sample with six flat-fronted drawers at the sides and a central area with a small door that can be opened. On the outside, the piece of furniture is decorated with geometric carvings. The province of Girona was the most important centre of furniture production in Catalonia in the 17th and 18th centuries. This is evidenced, among other things, by the fact that the carpenters' guild was made up not only of architects, carpenters and carvers, as in Barcelona, but also of cabinetmakers, "cofreros", "carpinteros de cajas" and other specialities. The furniture in this area shows a very restrained French influence, avoiding the exaggerations of rococo, with solid, sober, majestic pieces. One of the most important towns in Girona in terms of furniture production is Torroella de Montgrí, where, for example, a pair of important chest of drawers now in the Girona Museum of Art comes from. Torroella's production is concentrated in a relatively short period of time, but it was very intense and had an impact on the configuration of Mallorcan furniture, as numerous examples were exported to the Balearic Islands.