Provenance: Provenance: Ma. Cristina Ongpin-Roxas

ABOUT THE WORK

Philippine houses during the first century of Spanish rule hardly had any furniture, similar to their Iberian counterparts. For the master of the house, a single bed, a lone table, and a straight-backed chair were considered adequate. Cabinets were also very rare; few clothes were typically kept in rattan tampipi or covered baskets made in Camarines. Furniture back then was not only scarce and expensive— because each furniture-making aspect was done by hand—but also valued enough to be pawned in case of need. This practice continued until the end of the nineteenth century. The “Sangleys” who lived in the Parian outside Intramuros were the only craftsmen capable of making furniture in the Philippines. These are the Chinese who came to the country to trade and called themselves “Sangley” which means “traveling merchant.” This name was applied to all the Chinese until the end of the Spanish rule. These skilled furniture-makers in the colony used Chinese joinery techniques to make furniture without nails. Iron was scarce and was first imported from Mexico and then from China, until iron ore was discovered and mines were developed in Angat, Bulacan in the mid-eighteenth century. Rustic versions of Ming and Qing Dynasty furniture were made locally as the Sangley artisans made furniture they were naturally familiar with. This particular mesa-altar made of narra is highly rare and is usually found only in the old provinces around Manila. It has straight sakang or splayed legs and cutwork flanges in front that support the wide bottom drawer with two smaller ones on top. Decorated with iron bosses, its drawers have keyhole shields made of handwrought iron. The top also rests on cutwork flange supports on either side. - From the Archives of Martin I. Tinio Jr.