Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

18th Century Spanish Colonial Vargueno Set on a 19th Century Mission Chest

$5,175per set
£3,928.77per set
€4,493.68per set
CA$7,230.23per set
A$8,041.59per set
CHF 4,199.07per set
MX$97,857.58per set
NOK 53,628.50per set
SEK 50,294.08per set
DKK 33,538.03per set
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This interesting two-part piece of furniture is an example of the Spanish dominion over the Americas during the global colonization associated with Empire and trade supremacy. The top is an 18th-century walnut Vargueno is of Spanish Colonial origin and most likely made in South America or Mexico for an important merchant or government official who would need to travel and maintain books, papers and correspondence while on the move. These items worked as a filing system, safe and self-contained storage unit when locked. Constructed of single boards of thick walnut bound in iron at the corners and lockable with large impressive locks and handles for carrying. Note the iron lock plates corner brackets and large decorative latches all once gilded as traces remain. The interior was once gilded and silvered which has toned to nice mellow color now. With incised decorative patterns and polychromed to look like tortoise shell, the interior was a showpiece when opened for viewing by guests and visitors. These forms of cabinets would have had sometimes a companion table designed to set them on for use and display but sometimes not. This one currently sets upon a Spanish Mission chest of the early 19th century circa 1800 to 1820. This piece is most likely made in New Mexico or the California region where the Catholic missions existed from the 17th to the early 19th century as hold outs of Spanish ideals. The chest has been associated with the Vargueno for a long time and may have been made to fit it as it has pull outs to help hold the fall front in place. The chest has two large drawers and a small square cupboard door. The locks and pulls while of iron are forged in a much cruder manner then the Vargueno top and attest to its Mission origins. This fine old desk comes from the estate of Mr. and Mrs. John Cunningham Kansas City Mo. as well as the estate of their daughter Sue Blair of Manhattan. Condition Disclosure: While we do our best to carefully inspect and give a full report on the condition of any item we sell, pointing out any repairs or alterations that may have been done to the best of our knowledge, as is the case with any antique and vintage item, there is a possibility that at some point in the life of the piece that there may have been damaged which has been professionally repaired and as such a repair undetectable, it is therefore impossible for us to disclose... we recommend that you also read and agree to the 1st dibs user agreement, particularly sections 9,13,15,18,19 and 27
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 56.75 in (144.15 cm)Width: 43.5 in (110.49 cm)Depth: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Baroque (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Walnut,Carved,Polychromed
  • Place of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Period:
    Mid-18th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1760
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor structural damages. Minor fading. The polychromed interior surface shows wear and flaking but this is to be expected with age and use, the wood is in good shape with some old worming but solid and sound.
  • Seller Location:
    Hudson, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU81134034643

More From This Seller

View All
17th Century English Leather Travel Trunk on Later Stand
Located in Hudson, NY
This interesting period trunk, circa 1680-1700 is constructed of wood that has been banded in iron then covered with embossed leather and brass tacks and spandrels creating a decorat...
Category

Antique Late 17th Century Blanket Chests

Materials

Wood, Leather

17th Century English Leather Travel Trunk on Later Stand

17th Century English Leather Travel Trunk on Later Stand

$2,975 / set
Late 17th Century Tuscan Italian Walnut Cassone
Located in Hudson, NY
This nicely detailed walnut Italian cassone or chest is from the late 17th century approx. circa 1680 to 1700. Formally part of the collection of a Frick museum board member the piec...
Category

Antique Late 17th Century Italian Renaissance Blanket Chests

Materials

Walnut

Late 17th Century Tuscan Italian Walnut Cassone

Late 17th Century Tuscan Italian Walnut Cassone

$3,800
18th Century Two-Drawer French Commode
Located in Hudson, NY
Two-drawer commode with thick black stone top and gilt bronze hardware.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

18th Century Two-Drawer French Commode

18th Century Two-Drawer French Commode

$10,500
18th Century German Commode
Located in Hudson, NY
A three-drawer commode with burled veneer inset panels. Satinwood stringing and fruitwood body.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century German Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century German Commode

18th Century German Commode

$13,500
Italian Paint Decorated Side Cabinet
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely Italian paint decorated side cabinet is made from old and new elements. The caryatides in an empire or Egyptian form are old eleme...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Cabinets

Materials

Gesso, Paint, Wood

Italian Paint Decorated Side Cabinet

Italian Paint Decorated Side Cabinet

$4,150
18th Century Oak French Louis XV Normandy Buffet Deux Corp
Located in Hudson, NY
This nice and compact-sized buffet with glazed doors comes from the Normandy region in France and was made, circa 1770 during the reign of Louis XV. Created using dark stained oak a ...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Cupboards

Materials

Glass, Oak

18th Century Oak French Louis XV Normandy Buffet Deux Corp

18th Century Oak French Louis XV Normandy Buffet Deux Corp

$4,500

You May Also Like

Late 18th Century Spanish Colonial Bargueño
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
This late 18th-century Peruvian bargueño is an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial craftsmanship, featuring vibrant hand-painted decoration and intricate hardware. The front pane...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Peruvian Baroque Cabinets

Materials

Wrought Iron

Late 18th Century Spanish Colonial Bargueño

Late 18th Century Spanish Colonial Bargueño

$5,980
Vargueno, Bargueno, Escritorio, Taquillon, Spanish, Baroque, Walnut, Velvet
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Spanish writing desks of this period are the most distinctive pieces of Spanish furniture conceived as visual displays of incredible virtuosity. The characteristic decoration of the ...
Category

Antique Early 17th Century Spanish Baroque Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Vargueno, Bargueno, Escritorio, Taquillon, Spanish, Baroque, Walnut, Velvet

Vargueno, Bargueno, Escritorio, Taquillon, Spanish, Baroque, Walnut, Velvet

$24,667
Rare 17th Century Spanish Vargueño
Located in Chicago, IL
Behold a rare and remarkable treasure from 17th century Spain: the vargueño. Crafted from solid one-inch thick walnut panels, this vargueño stands as a testament to the masterful cra...
Category

Antique 17th Century Spanish Baroque Cupboards

Materials

Wrought Iron

Rare 17th Century Spanish Vargueño

Rare 17th Century Spanish Vargueño

$13,875 Sale Price
25% Off
17th Century Spanish Vargueno with Decoupage Exterior on Baroque Style Base
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Spanish vargueno or collector cabinet with a sophisticated assemblage of decorated drawers and cabinets on the interior with columnar accents. The exterior with except...
Category

Antique 17th Century Spanish Baroque Cabinets

Materials

Wrought Iron

17th Century Spanish Vargueno with Decoupage Exterior on Baroque Style Base

17th Century Spanish Vargueno with Decoupage Exterior on Baroque Style Base

$39,800
Bargueño End of 16th Century Portugal "Writting Desk" with Drawers, Bargueno
Located in Miami, FL
Bargueño writing desk, cabinet in walnut tipical from Portugal. This sort of early chest of drawers were use for papers and documents, it was used as a transportable writing desk. ...
Category

Antique 16th Century Portuguese Renaissance Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Bargueño End of 16th Century Portugal "Writting Desk" with Drawers, Bargueno

Bargueño End of 16th Century Portugal "Writting Desk" with Drawers, Bargueno

$5,000
Superb 17th Century Spanish Vergueno On Stand
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine example of a late 17th century Spanish vargueno on stand. The early mahogany cabinet has the original iron mounts and the fall front opens to reveal a beautifully fitted inter...
Category

Antique Late 17th Century Spanish Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Superb 17th Century Spanish Vergueno On Stand

Superb 17th Century Spanish Vergueno On Stand

$21,926

More Ways To Browse

Mid Century Colonial
Spanish Mission
Spanish Mission Furniture
18th Century Colonial Furniture
Mexican Colonial
19th Century Mexican Furniture
Mexican Colonial Furniture
Spanish Empire
Mexican Spanish Colonial Furniture
American Colonial Furniture 18th Century
Colonial Long Table
Spanish Display Cabinets
Antique Table Top Display Case
Baroque Display Cabinet
Spanish Front Door
Mexican 18th Century Furniture
18th Century Safe
Empire Display Case
View All Popular Secretaires Searches