Bufetillo c. 17th century

Curator: Oh, this is lovely! I'm immediately drawn to how every surface of it seems covered with a narrative, some grand, some small and domestic. Editor: Absolutely! At first glance, it feels like a diorama collapsed into a box—all these tiny figures rendered with such painstaking detail. I imagine this box contains very special secrets or treats, it just exudes old world intrigue. Curator: Indeed. What you are seeing is "Bufetillo", an object which roughly dates to the 17th century. Created by an anonymous artist, the artifact uses mixed-media, including tempera paint, with clear links to both the miniature tradition of Asian art and to European medieval art making. We think the Bufetillo is more than just decorative but also functioned as a storage or display unit. Editor: Interesting! All the more intriguing, this layering of Asian and European styles... Look, I notice hunting scenes here, but also what appear to be mythological beings, coexisting rather seamlessly. Are there specific symbolic elements we should be aware of? Curator: Given its era, one assumes many of the figures relate to classical mythology but perhaps filtered through different cultural understanding of symbolic traditions from Spain to South East Asia. What's key for me is understanding how these visual motifs traveled – the exchange between cultures. How did different audiences read these stories and images in their own cultural milieu? This artwork becomes a crossroads for shared symbols. Editor: It makes me wonder about the patron. This Bufetillo radiates refinement, almost playful in a dark, gothic sort of way...Someone with a taste for worldliness but also whimsy. Curator: Yes, and I am certain the combination of practicality and pure spectacle must have served well both practical, spiritual and cultural desires. It represents a beautiful confluence of diverse artistic impulses. Editor: A lovely little universe packed in a box! A conversation starter, even now! Curator: Precisely. A tangible memory of historical encounters, indeed.