Provenance: Javellana Family

ABOUT THE WORK

This sofa is locally known as mariposa sofa because its shape resembles that of a butterfly (or mariposa in Spanish). It was influenced by the Belter Style of furniture that became popular in the US after 1850. Made of veneers and usually upholstered with horsehair, the style underwent transformation when it became fashionable in the Philippines as the Revival Luis Quince Style. Solid narra instead of veneer was used in its construction and, due to the hot and humid climate, the upholstery was dispensed with and replaced with rattan caning. This elegant sofa has a pair of short cabriole legs in front and splayed back legs. The arm support consists of an acanthus leaf scroll emanating from a graceful inwardcurling volute that has a small curl attached that becomes the arm. The serpentine-shaped seat, caned in one piece, has the front of the seat frame carved with a narrow apron of symmetrical curved and scrolled moldings. The back follows the serpentine contour of the seat frame and is composed of three oval backrests, each resembling that of a Luis Quince side chair with the middle one lower than those on either side. A caned panel in between connects the backrests to each other. The oval grooved frames and caned backrests are surmounted by a pierced crest featuring a central tri-lobed scroll surrounding symmetrical posies of flowers flanked by delicate tendrils terminating with leaves. The shape of the central scroll is that of a stylized bat, the harbinger of good fortune among the Chinese. It is an indication that the maker of the piece was a Chinaman. -Martin I. Tinio, Jr.