Spanish Colonial Furniture in America
It was the sixteenth century, and spread across America while the Spanish taste in furniture design and the techniques used to manufacture them, also became known creations originating the new continent, which in many cases shocked to newcomers by quality of the raw materials used, the treatment of local woods and beauty supplements, and decorative items. This is the colonial style.
In and around the Mexican territory, was very prominent use of the technique of Maqua, identical to the origin of Chinese lacquer. Indeed, many argue that the current historical reality lacquer is originally from Mexico. The Maqua is to apply successive layers of a fatty substance and a mixture of dyes and powders, both natural and synthetic, on furniture or objects to highlight its original features.
This local knowledge, together with the proliferation of Spanish artisans, led an interesting creative movement that stimulated the production of furniture, which is especially the desks, boxes, trunks and gabions. Maqua next to another very important decorative technique in Mexico during the years of Cologne was the implementation of tortoiseshell plates, plus use of leather and embroidered with local raw material.
In South America, meanwhile, stressed greatly the use of wood, due to a large oriental influence during those years. Balcones doors of churches and other wood elements combined with the original East Indian crafts. They came over time tables, chairs and cabinets with floral motifs, in addition to the typical designs of the aborigines, with representations of the flora and fauna. In the picture we see a colonial furniture from the area of Nicaragua, a proposal for the historic house "El Recodo".