68 
House b" Garden 
The characteristic 
Spanish table, 
with wrought iron 
under-bracing, 
and Spanish 
choirs of the two 
types most fre¬ 
quently found in 
old Spain. These 
reproductions are 
from the Kensing¬ 
ton Co. 
THE TRUE EURNITURE OE OLD SPAIN 
The Trend of Architecture Inspires Modern Reproductions 
of the Ancient and Interesting Forms of Mudejar 
HORACE MORAN 
I T is a seeming paradox that with our 
increasing interest in the simpler kind of 
home and our awakening to the value of 
plain surfaces of wall, we should ha\’e such a 
liking for the ornate furniture of older S[)ain. 
This however, is quite consistent and readily 
explained. In the first place, a plain surface 
is the best foil or background for anything 
ornamental; and again, the 
furniture of Spain’s golden 
16th Century has the naive 
spirit of our picturesque stucco 
houses in the west. 
In selecting Spanish furni¬ 
ture, whether original jrieces or 
those now being made in this 
country, it is well to know 
wherein lies the secret of its 
charm. It is well, too, to know 
how to avoid the indiscrimi¬ 
nate buying of Spanish things 
just because they are from 
Spain or are called Spanish. In 
the few words which follow, 
the uninitiated should find 
much to guide them; and a few 
visits to the Hispanic Museum 
in New York should help fix in 
the mind the various types and 
kinds of furniture used in Spain 
when at the height of her glory. 
The unique character of this 
furniture is due to the fact that it was exe¬ 
cuted by Moorish craftsmen working for 
their Christian conquerors in the flood tide 
of the Renaissance. This resulted in an 
adaptation of classic forms but without the 
architectural columns, cornices and other 
details used by the Italian furniture makers, 
the Moorish workman having brought with 
him the Arabian tradition of simple forms 
with surfaces of conventional yet playful 
detail. This tradition he preserved. 
The Arabian ornament has a geometric 
basis and is not florid or naturalistic; and 
this ornament and the cabinet-work on 
which it is applied, are not the sophisticated 
production to be found in the work of Italy. 
There is a curious, almost 
crude, use of the wood (usually 
walnut) in which the most di¬ 
rect and solid methods of con¬ 
struction are employed, and 
the carving is commonly based 
upon a succession of chisel cuts. 
The simple forms invited the 
use of a surface treatment with 
wrought-iron locks, corners, 
braces and handles of great 
decorative value, the Spanish 
craftsmen being most skilful 
in the use of this metal. 
This type of furniture is 
known in Spain as Mudejar, 
and is much sought by the 
Spanish nobleman, who usu¬ 
ally keeps his collection of mas- 
.1 re production of the Var- 
gucno, which was a chest 
mounted on a stand or small 
table. It is one of the most 
distinctly Spanish pieces 
of the Mudejar type 
