Katie Hurd
ART 272
Dr. Hunt
4 April 2022
Carved Wood Cabinet
Before diving into the beauty and complexity of this carved wood cabinet, it is important to understand some of the basic historical trends and patterns of furniture during the Renaissance time period. What makes furniture so significant to Renaissance history is how each type of furniture during this time tells a story about the overlap of culture and religion that go into each piece. A melting pot of ideas, discoveries, philosophies, and people have all contributed to the continuously evolving furniture of the 15th century. As discussed deliberately in class this semester, to understand the significance of a piece of work, it is crucial to know the role players, the environment, and the events taking place during the time in which it was built. When researching my specific piece from special collections, I found that learning from other furniture trends and cultural trends across Spain in the 13th century is what led me to build connections that would give me the best insight into why this carved wood cabinet holds so much significance.
To understand the unique beauty this carved wood cabinet holds, it is crucial to touch on the overall trends and history of furniture during Spain’s medieval era and Renaissance. Diving into furniture trends will pave the way for the discovery of how this piece made its way to Washington D.C. in such good condition. During the time this cabinet was built, 1550-1600, Spain was in an extended holy war which was attributed to their medieval attitude longer than other parts of Europe. As a result, their furniture reflected this attitude, being crude with a rustic, rough quality that was much more suited for military life and the extreme Spanish climates than furniture being produced in other parts of Europe. The strongest separation between Spanish furniture compared to European furniture was the way the wood was designed and constructed. Spain's Moorish background stemming from Islamic North African arts is the inspiration for their wood designs that portray strong geometric patterns and intricate medieval foundations. The Spanish chestnut was the primary furniture material used by the Moors because there was an abundance of it in Spain making it cheapest while also allowing their pieces to be built so securely. In addition to the materialistic history, the name of this cabinet provides further detail on where exactly in Spain this cabinet was built. The cabinet is known as a vargueno which is Castillian; however, the root of this word was originally derived from Vargas, located near Toledo. This means it stems from Moorish origin developed by the Moors who are a group from North Africa that conquered the Iberian Peninsula and brought their religion and architecture to Spain.
The Moors conquered what is now Spain and Portugal and were a Muslim group that used Islamic design in all aspects of their architecture, paintings, and furniture. They built the vargueno cabinet for mosques, palaces, and even private homes as a staple in the room that took up little space while providing a writing desk and storage. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Moorish design was adopted by Christian architects across Western Mediterranean regions such as southern Italy, Sicily, and Corsica. This is because the society under the Moors in Spain was primarily Christian who adopted the Islamic architecture of the Moors into their culture and spread it to their fellow Christians across southern Italy and eventually into France. The vargueno cabinet was quickly embraced outside of Spain because of its ability to be transported easily and safely. The condensity of the piece and the material in which it was built allowed for people to easily move with it and take it from one location to another without damaging it. As it began being transported, the vargueno became one of the most important pieces of furniture in the 15th century and all across Europe as religions and cultures put their own twist on the Gothic style cabinet. It was a staple in both Christian and Muslim religions and the usage of the cabinet began to diversify people’s homes and public spaces. This tells us that the object was incredibly mobile and in order to know where this specific cabinet originated from, we must dive into the architectural details and file information provided by the University.
The cabinet was donated to the University by Rev. James Magner who was an avid collector and traveler interested in religious and Latin American art, artifacts, and people. The estimated date of execution of this object was between 1550 and 1600 in Spain with an appraised value of $5,000. Rev. Magner collected this object not only because of its historical significance but also its religious aspect. When looking at the object, it has two bold crosses carved out on the side drawers possibly indicating it belonged to a church or clergy house. The one contrast that the cabinet has from its original photos on file is the missing trestle style base with turned and reeded columns. In the photo, this base held up the cabinet to be used as a desk with many religious materials showcased on top. When looking at this cabinet compared to others from Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries, this one appears to be much more simplistic in design with limited patterns and colors. It has strong geometric features and arched paneling along a few of the cabinets. The ironed accents on the outside and along the keyholes give it more character, and their patterns may help identify where this specific vargueno was developed. With this information we can confidently say that the cabinet is not as extravagant or valuable as others during its time period; however, it holds a religious value that makes it significant to the Chrisitan religion.
The value this cabinet has towards the ever-expanding networks of the Global Renaissance represents how its history and story play a crucial role in identifying common trends in the distribution of furniture during this time period. By knowing the roots of where this cabinet was made and the types of people that produced it, we gain insight into the cultural significance of the piece. To understand how it intertwines with the distribution of goods during the Renaissance, it is crucial to dive deeper into the cabinet's storyline by identifying common trends in the transfer of all furniture. The cabinet contains two sturdy iron handles on each side that are utilized to easily transport the cabinet to different locations. Once it is condensed into a chest, the ability to transport it is simple and efficient. This was a common trend for Renaissance furniture as chairs were built lighter, tables were built to fold, and lighter materials were used. The continuous movement of scholars, craftsmen, and people of various cultures made it crucial that furniture was built for their convenience and for shipments of goods overseas. The other common trend in future design and transportation during this time was directly correlated to people's wealth and social status. Those with money and power had the most influence; therefore, were able to ensure that their taste in furniture and art was represented in society. This piece was built in great detail with the best material indicating that it was built for an individual that had wealth and a passion for religion and wanted both showcased in the piece.
The material goods on this object also play a role in the ever-expanding networks of the global Renaissance. The usage of iron tells us a lot about the production of the object and the value it possesses. Originally, the Moors did not produce as much of their goods with iron until the 15th century when they were pushed southward and their Moorish styles blended with Gothic to create a Mudejar style. Mudejar were some of the highest skilled craftsmen and blended their craftsmanship with the Moors’ wood designs to create some of the most studied pieces in Renaissance history. The Mudejar were dealing with great difficulties in Spain as Christian Princes forced them into labor and began using them for their craftsmanship skills. The Christian control over the Mudejars resulted in the Mudejars to create pieces for Chrisitan Princes which could be why this specific cabinet was built. Another aspect of the cabinet that contributes to its significance is the two iron locks and keys. Furniture pieces built with locks and keys during the 15th century indicate the highest standard of workmanship. The detail, time, and precision that factor into the creation of iron locks during that time period give this cabinet value. The incorporation of locks on people’s furniture and belongings is a strong example of the ever-expanding networks of the global Renaissance. Locks can be an indication of the increasing urbanization of life as people began relocating and developing a more industrial lifestyle. As this happened there was a new emphasis on material wealth and the private ownership of it, which is why people were more secure and possessive of their belongings. The demand for privacy and security in people’s furniture was incorporated into the cabinets being produced and led to many having locked cabinets for valuables.
Attached to this post are photos of the cabinet from its file and ones I have taken in special collections. From these photos, it is clear that the condition of the cabinet has remained intact and the woodwork and iron engravings give it great individuality. This piece of furniture is able to tell a story about the development of furniture in Spain through the materials used, architecture displayed, and overall build of the object. The combination of Gothic, Moor, and Mudejar cultures incorporated in this design indicates its Islamic North African background through the woodwork and iron craftsmanship. In addition, the religious symbolism on the cabinet indicates the purpose for which it was built, which was for the Christian faith. With limited information pulled from the object file, the most important information that can be drawn about this cabinet must come from its origin. From this, we can conclude that the role players for this cabinet were of Moorish and Mudejar descent, the environment was near Vargas Spain which had been taken over by Islamic groups but still had a strong Christian population, and the events that took place in Spain at this time were religious overlap and strong mobility of goods, artwork, and architecture that all contributed to the diverse array of vargueno cabinets across Europe and eventually across the world.
Work Cited
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Mudejar.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed April 3, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mudejar.
“Moorish Architecture.” Medieval Chronicles. Moorish Architecture , May 23, 2016. https://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-architecture/medieval-architecture-history/moorish-architecture/.
Muscato, Christopher. “Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers.” Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. Accessed April 3, 2022. https://study.com/academy/lesson/spanish-furniture-history-styles.html.
“Spanish Furniture.” Spanish Furniture: Gothic and Renaissance Periods. Accessed April 3, 2022. http://www.european-furniture-styles.com/Spanish-Furniture.html.
By. “University Libraries.” Whats Up. The Catholic University of America , August 8, 2017. https://www.lib.cua.edu/wordpress/newsevents/tag/rev-msgr-james-magner/.
Waldek, Stefanie. “The Fascinating History of Moorish Design.” House Beautiful. House Beautiful, November 2, 2021. https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a36009865/moorish-design/.