PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA INTAMUROS, MANILA

Furniture During Spanish Era in the Philippines

Submitted By: ART CHRISTIAN RAMOS BSN 1-2 Rm GK 306, Thurs 10am 1pm

Submitted To: Professor Antonio Regalario Date Submitted: August 30, 2012

Casa Manila located just across the historic San Agustin Church is a house of a museum. It recreates the fabulous lifestyle of an illustrado during the Spanish -colonial era. The nostalgic ambience takes you back in time with the use of antique furniture, ornamentation, paintings, lighting fixtures and other objects of decorative art. The house is a typical bahay-na-bato. The faade is made out of adobe bricks. the ground floor serves as the antique and souvenir shops for the tourists. At the second floor the flooring is made out of wood material. Polished, shiny floors welcomes visitors . Theres a white pathway for guest to keep them at bay. The doors of the ante-sala open into the vast living room, typical of the 19th century house, the living room is airy, wide, with space flowing from One room to another, its spaciousness emphasized all the more by wide Wooden floors. Capiz windows, covered by wooden blinds, run from wall to wall. The warm color of wood gives a welcoming embrace paired with Spanish colonial furniture such as the infamous mariposa, a cane sofa, named after its graceful butterfly shaped back. An occasional table placed at the center of the sala serves as the center table. An enormous framed oil painting in canvas placed on the walls, it was said to be the portrait of the house owner. Beautifully well ornate transoms and crafted cornices surrounding the fabulous chandelier at the ceiling. Figurines and porcelain wares decorates the sala to show off ones status in society. The white pathway le ads to the oratorio or small chapel like room. It is where the family gather and pray at night. Complete with mesa altar and Santos or religious icons kept in glass cabinets. Prominent families during the Spanish era have oratorio for the Spanish colonialism centers in religion. Another room or more commonly known as the blue room is the secondary bedroom. Wooden polished floors glisten as visitors enter the room. Antique

Spanish furniture such as four post bed with carvings, baul, occasional table, aparador, painadora or ladies dresser with drawers etc. walls were painted with light blue tone with neo-classical motifs., a cream draped curtain with valance as window treatment. Fabulous carved framed mirror hung beside the bed. Cuarto principal or the main bedroom is connected to the blue room. Back then, privacy is not a primary importance in family life. A connected room signifies connectivity, togetherness and unity. The blue rooms and Cuarto principals furniture are almost the same except for the tres lu nas (armoire with three sections0 and tremor or dresser with swinging full length mirror and lavabo or marble washstand all furniture are status symbol then. A full length banquet like lamesa welcomes the guests as they enter the Comedor or the dining area . Surrounded by carve silyas. A platera (a furniture where dining glass ,porcelain wares were kept as display) was placed at the far left of the dining table. Green over-head cloth fan serves as ventilation and to repel flies from the dishes. The over-head cloth fan have ropes and was being pulled by a servant while the masters dine. Ventanillas ; also for ventilation were being open during hot summer days for cross ventilation. The kitchen or cocina has a stovetop or pugon made of ash and water. Dishes are washed and dried in the banggera. Glasses are dried upside down on the spikes. The paminggalan (cupboard) was used to store preserves, leftovers, etc. A can of kerosene is sometimes placed under every leg to prevent ants from going up. The bao or bathroom contains two sizes of baeras (bathtubs). These usually large bathtubs are made of stoneware.

1. Butaca

Evocative of the tropics was the butaca (planters chair). Its most prominent features were a reclining back and long wide arms which often extended way beyond the front of the seat. This chair, also called silla perezosa (lazy chair), was the epitome of relaxation in those days; the sitter could rest his legs up on the long wide arms as he took his afternoon siesta. It symbolizes relaxation and comfort.

2. Gallinera

A popular bench was the gallinera, so called because the slatted bottom half was supposed to keep roosters while their owners carried on their business with residents of the house. It is also a refined chair for it is made of usually narra wood. Polished and varnished for the purpose of lasting long and making it look elegant. The railings underneath the chair serve as the chamber for the rooster of the owners who are staying after a long day of cock fighting. It is a purpose of business and a way to make visitors more comfortable. It symbolizes hospitality.

3. Baul

One of the earliest pieces for storage was the baul, a wooden chest. Locally made baul reproduced in carvings the intricate markings of tooled Cordovan leather, which was used to cover chests brought in by the galleons. It signifies that this type of storage keeps important documents, weapons, money, files, or other things that the owner does not want others to look at. It symbolizes secrecy and keep.

4. Aparador

The aparador was a large cabinet which had one, two, or even three doors. Huge aparadores stood in church sacristies for storing various utensils and silver ornaments. Smaller aparadores were found in residences, often in the bedrooms. In the 19th century, as fortunes rose, aparadores began to sport large mirrors on their doors and elaborate carvings on the crown. Usually kept in bedrooms. It signifies storage and organization.

5. Ah Tay Bed

It is a four post beds. Which is called an Ah tay bed. This bed was a status symbols during the colonial era. The elite wanted their beds carved with embellishments. This bedroom furniture was named after a Chinese artisan who often incorporate baroque leaves and flowers, calabasa feet, ar nouveau swirls and prince of wales feathers in his creations. This bed is made of narra wood and as we can see it is a durable because of its four post body.