Antique Furniture in Argentina
Topic: Antique Furniture
Criollo Antique Furniture is a very special kind of antique for these objects express a cultural merge, not just a sole style.

The Spanish conquer of Latin America was in many ways deeper and more influential than the British in other parts of the world. The cultural input of the Spanish motherland was such that it lasted and prevailed even 2 centuries after the first encounter took place. The most evident result was the emergence of a mixed culture that took upon a particular name: Criolla. This was special kind of reference with which people during the colony defined the daughters and sons of European Spaniards that were born in the Spanish America. This initial indication dual culture –that of the parents, and that of their land- was then extended to a broad number of activities that reflected culture thru means of its productions. And that was the case of Criollo furniture. If at first the mainstream European culture determined that Spaniards would bring every single belonging from their mother land to their new home, a while after they settled as dominant party in Hispanic America most of their objects were done in the “new” continent trying to reproduce a European feel. However as time passed and Latin Americans assisted the birth of a new society, that was neither pre Columbian nor European, but properly new, featuring influences from both sides, as well as own initiatives, the new cultural products were addressed as criollo.

Along with society and culture, the aesthetic production of Latin America evolved and presented a specific style.

In Argentina, known as the Vice royal of the River Plate until 1810 when it became independent, the criollo style was –and still is- linked to the upper class sophistication. Being the fact that the Argentine social power laid on the domain of the countryside, agriculture and cattle were the gold poppies of the rich and powerful, the Argentine criollo aesthetic was very much in tune with a rural and country side feel. Strong woods, heavy furniture of simple lines and frequently decorated with silver or iron details, the Argentine Criollo antique furniture features a superb quality while showing a simple –though delightful- aesthetic.

The impact of time on these sorts of furniture and objects is extremely favorable, for the objects acquire a sophisticated shine and feel. At the same time, one other substantial quality of these products is that of solidity and strength, while on the other hand, some other style of antique furniture ages badly, the Argentine criollo furniture is –as our wine- better and savior with the pass of time.

Interested in buying antiques, or Antique Furniture in Argentina as well as collectibles from Buenos Aires or for that matter any other item that I have mentioned in any article you have found on this my web site, you can buy Toys from my museum and threw eBay, threw the Toy Museum on eBay press here; Toy Museum on eBay and threw The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, press here; Art Dealer on eBay From Art to Antiques. Or contact me direct. For more information :Email Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go to The Buenos Aires Art Dealer is a webzine magazine on Art, Antiques & Collectibles made or found in Argentina. The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, Argentina.



Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti. Argentina.

Antique Furniture from Argentina
Topic: Antique Furniture
Antique furniture represents a type of product and production other than the one prevalent in these modern days. However this wouldn’t be enough of a reason for its huge success and acceptance, high demand and top consumers. The fact that antique furniture is so in demand relays on the fact that this is a top notch quality product. Being antique is not synonym of old in all its expressions. The old and age factor within is tied to the fact that in other historical, cultural and technological eras, the way objects were produced and the materials with which these were crafted were absolutely different to those of today.

Antique furniture has an intrinsic quality feature that lays on the fact that in previous centuries to the age of Machinery and Modern Industry, the production process of objects had as a milestone the individual ability and capability of the master craftman who worked with solid pieces of wood with nothing more than a sharp tool and his gifted and trained hands, together with a sharp eye for style and design. There were no further machines nor computers with which to design and conceive a product, or even with which to produce it. Nor there were other artificial –or man created wood looking and feeling materials- prime products with which to create these objects.

This indication is not a judgmental objection; this is just an objective fact taken out of reality. The differential technique and technology level achieved limited the horizon of possibilities and innovations. To us, looking from the present back into those primitive technological days, the final product of such sophistication, delicacy and quality is even more valuable, because we value the object in terms of comparison and reflection of our own known world.

Antique furniture has a special kind of finish, but also a very particular sort of feel to the tact, for the natural aging of the object has impacted on the piece as a whole producing a particular style and shine to the wood, the metal and the detail.

This furniture of yore, especially those of the Renaissance[1] and the beginning of Modernity brought back a sense of beauty that had been left aside during the Middle Age in Europe, began to focus on sophistication and luxury. In a retrospective analysis we can point out the fact that these objects express the milestone for any further aesthetic revolution and design.

But European antique furniture is not the only coveted relic, Asian, Hindu, Arabic furniture as early as the 6th century are outstanding treasures[2] of style and sophistication.

Yet these are not the only styles of furniture that can be considered antique. We needn’t go back to the beginning of times, it is generally accepted within the world of antique furniture to trace a division line between objects that were crafted without the aid of machinery and those that were, between hand made and those industrially made; between those who were produced by an individual artisan in a work shop or those that were manufactured by means of a serial organization of production by a number if collaborating workers.

1830 was set as a hinge landmark for production (though it doesn’t apply rigorously everywhere and to every kind of product). The origin of this particular date can be traced back to the United States, when in 1930 the US government issued a law explicating the fact that for their tax income they considered that 100 year old objects were antiques and so they could be admitted duty free into the U.S.

All and all this is a perspective. And as such, we prefer to complement it with the prior definition in which it’s stated the fact that a delimiting line could also be the way the object was produced.

If applying the combined definition, we can approach Argentine and most South American countries antiques in a better form, for most of these young nations became such during the early decades of the 19th century, and the industrial revolution did not reach these far away lands way into the last quarter of that century and some places even the early 20th century. Hence the coveted craftsmanship features we described above can be found as late as the first years of the 1900s.

As social products, antique furniture is in many ways a reflection of a determined state of culture in a specific location –at least it was until the upcoming of globalization-.

Their value doesn’t just lay on the fact that they were produced many years ago, there’s of course an aesthetic distinction that sets a determined object apart including the marks the pass of time has left on the object in question.

That’s why some commoner furniture such as school desks, kitchen tables or rocking chairs are coveted at the same time some other people prefer a Louis XVI styled furniture. What was a working class desk made out of a strong wood as oak, though originally roughly made, has now a styled appearance for the pass of time and the use has soften and lined out a one of a kind polish.

The world of antique furniture is a vast universe of styles, taste and detail. To approach it successfully there’s an advisee trinity: knowledge, taste and a sharp eye, that will aid you in a profitable and long lasting investment in style and quality.



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[1] We refer to the period that began with the rebirth of aesthetics as well as consolidation of absolutist monarchies in Europe when the interest on style and d?cor became more and more important and referential for history and culture.

[2] In this way it’s important to point out that while Europe was undergoing a dark period of intellectual and cultural production, the eastern part of the known world was flourishing to a magnificent highpoint.


Interested in buying antiques and collectibles from Buenos Aires or for that matter any other item that I have mentioned in any article you have found on this my web site, you can buy Toys from my museum and threw eBay, threw the Toy Museum on eBay press here; Toy Museum on eBay and threw The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, press here; Art Dealer on eBay From Art to Antiques. Or contact me direct. For more information :Email Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go to The Buenos Aires Art Dealer is a webzine magazine on Art, Antiques & Collectibles made or found in Argentina. The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, Argentina.



Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti. Argentina.