Tray - Batea, Lacquer and gold on wood, 18th century

Tray – batea, Lacquer and gold on wood, sculpted in bas-relief Mexico – 18th century
Height: 3.15 in – Diameter: 15.35 in
Tray in sculpted wood, lacquered according to the technique practiced in Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacan: a pre-Columbian process whereby chia fruit seeds were pressed and mixed with natural pigments. Bateas were regarded as curios in Spain, therefore the Patzcuaro workshops were very active in the 18th century and were also in uenced by the Japanese Namban lacquers imported on galleons at Acapulco. With its elegant patterns of birds and foliage, this batea is typical of those colonial objets d’art of mixed origins which were much appreciated by yesteryear’s collectors.