A Peruvian or Mexican walking-stick


A PROBABLY UNIQUE PERUVIAN or MEXICAN SILVER, TORTOISESHELL, IVORY AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL WALKING-STICK

Peru / Mexico - 18th century
Measurements : high 99 cm (3 feet 2,97 inch), handle 9,6 cm (3,77 inch) long

The walking-stick is overall decorated with veneered red stained tortoiseshell, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and silver stringing. The finials of the handle are decorated with silver floral filigree mounts.

The inlaid decoration is called as “Enconchado” or “inlaid with mother-of-pearl”.

The general condition is very good.
The overall patina is very nice and has a general old view.
Minor chips. No restorations visible.

References :
Any reference of a similar walking-stick is known.This walking-stick was certainly a personal commission of an important person as a Governor as example in the painting by Joaquin Gutierrez with the image of Jorge Miguel Lozano de Peralta (Museo de Arte Colonial - Bogota, Colombia).
Provenance :
Private collection, United Kingdom.
Museums :
Several items, such as crucifixes, frames, caskets or cabinets, with similar decoration can be seen at following museums :

  • Hispanic Museum - New York - USA
  • Museo Soumaya - Mexico City - MEXICO
  • LACMA Museum - Los Angeles - USA
  • MFA Museum - Boston - USA
  • Museo Pedro de Osma - Lima - PERU

Bibliography :

  • "A surviving Legacy in Spanish America", Maria Campos Carlès de Pena
  • “El mueble en el Peru en el siglo XVIII : estilos, gustos y costumbres de la elite colonial”, Gabriela Germana Roquez, Museo de Arte de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
  • “The Arts in Latin America”, J. Rishel & S. Stratton-Pruitt

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