Indo-Portuguese cabinet called CONTADOR in exotic carved, moulded and patinated wood, with fantastic decoration inlaid with griffins with owl heads and ivory eyes raised. Frames of dark scrolls on a light background.
It opens by twelve drawers in its upper part, and rests on its base opening by two drawers in belt and five niches including three in front.
It rests on four sculpted legs with a round humpback decoration of mermaids with ivory-encrusted eyes, finished by baluster feet.
Beautiful ornament of openwork and twisted bronzes, such as corners, pulling handles or lock entries.

Note:
Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the economic development and enrichment of some European countries or cities was closely linked to their expansion policy based on the government of provinces or trading posts, most often located in distant and exotic lands that were used for the shipment of products and objects of all types to Europe. At that time, the province of Goa, located on the southwest coast of India, was one of three other provinces that formed the Portuguese colonies in India. There were many interactions between local and Western culture and some furniture and art objects nowadays bear witness to these different influences. Such is the case of the cabinet we present, stylistically dated to the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the following century, which is characteristic of the best achievements of this type. Its general composition, its inlaid decoration, as well as its base made of anthropomorphic fi gures is typical of Indo-Portuguese art.
Similar models can be found in the following large collections: Museo Abade de Baçal in Branganca, Museo Nacional de Arte Antiguo in Lisbon, Victoria and Albert Museum in London (reproduced in A. Jaffer, Luxury Goods from India, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p.58-59)