Provenance: Panelo Family, North Luzon

ABOUT THE WORK

This unusual mesa altar/ altar table of lanite and kamagong for household santos features elegant marquetry of floral and foliar forms executed in lanite and kamagong wood. This unusual mesa altar/altar table of English regency inspiration features a mitred narra top with five drawers with lined inlay. Flanking the drawers are floral and vegetal motifs in marquetry. The central drawer is supported by narra brackets with kamagong marquetry. The sides of the table are inlaid with large star motifs in lanite and kamagong. The turned legs have extraordinary marquetry of floral foliar and ribbon forms executed in lanite and kamagong. Such a table, where the household santos were placed either in the caida/ entrance hall or quartoprincipal/master bedroom of the bahayna-bato. During olden times it was in front of this table where the family congregated and knelt to say their morning, late afternoon, and evening prayers. This mesa altar/altar table possesses a quiet dignity. It is an expression of elegance, refinement and restraint.