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Collections

Unidentified artists
Trunk (Baúl)second half of the 17th century

On view:
Geffen Galleries, Spanish America at the Center of the World
Dome-lidded wooden chest painted overall with dense foliate, bird, and animal motifs in coral, blue, and green on a near-black ground, with two circular narrative medallions on the front face and iron strap hardware
Wooden dome-lidded trunk with polychrome painted decoration; the arched lid displays dense scrolling foliate patterns in warm red-brown tones, while the front body is covered in a dark ground with a gilt diagonal grid pattern and figural scenes at the corners; iron hinges and lock hardware visible.
Arched wooden chest or cabinet door with iron hardware, densely painted in green, orange, red, and gold on a dark ground; central circular medallion with a crowned motif and iron ring handle, surrounded by symmetrical scrolling foliage, paired birds, and floral borders.
Artist or Maker
Unidentified artists
Title
Trunk (Baúl)
Place Made
Mexico, Peribán (Michoacán)
Date Made
second half of the 17th century
Medium
Wood, lacquer, and metal fittings
Dimensions
25 1/2 × 43 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (64.8 × 110.5 × 47 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Ronald A. Belkin, Long Beach, California, in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary
Accession Number
M.2015.69.1
Classification
Furnishings
Collecting Area
Latin American Art
Curatorial Notes

The front and lid of this trunk are decorated with two central medallions that depict mirror images of a man brandishing a sword and staff and riding an armored horse. The sides include a coat of arms with a rampant lion and crown symbolizing the Spanish monarchy. The motifs appear amid a profusion of local birds and plants, as well as pomegranates, first imported by the Spaniards.

In the region of Michoacán, in west-central Mexico, inlaid lacquered objects belonged to an ancient and refined tradition. After the Spaniards arrived in the 1500s, Indigenous artists adapted the technique to new types of artifacts. The inflow of Asian objects and the European craze for lacquer (chinoiserie and japanning) inspired local artists to create their own versions, garnering fervent admiration. The town of Peribán was an acclaimed production center for fine lacquerware.

Ilona Katzew

2024

Provenance

Unknown consignment store, Santa Fe, New Mexico, c. 2002; Peter Grau Gallery Art & Antiques, Solana Beach, California, c. 2002; Ronald A. Belkin, Long Beach, California, 2002; LACMA, 2015.

Selected Bibliography
  • Gifts on the Occasion of LACMA's 50th Anniversary. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2015.
  • Katzew, Ilona, ed. Archive of the World: Art and Imagination in Spanish America, 1500–1800: Highlights from LACMA’s Collection. Exh. Cat. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; New York: DelMonico Books/D.A.P., 2022.
Selected Exhibition History
  • Archive of the World: Art and Imagination in Spanish America, 1500–1800. October 20, 2023 - January 28, 2024
  • Archive of the World: Art and Imagination in Spanish America, 1500–1800. June 22, 2024 - September 08, 2024

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