This fall-front cabinet, with draws inside, is European in form. But it was made in the Philippines, with exotic woods, bone inlay, and silver fittings. The lion heads and paw-shaped feet at the corners, and lion heads’ drawer pulls are similar to features on Chinese furniture, so this might be the work of southern Chinese craftsmen – or Filipinos influenced by those works. The most interesting aspect is the inlay decoration showing the foundation myth of Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Mexica (Aztecs). After independence, this became the coat of arms of Mexico. It is extremely unusual to find Aztec imagery on a European-style, fall-front cabinet made in the Philippines. This could be a special commission from Mexico City, or perhaps was made as a gift for a high-ranking official in Spanish-ruled Mexico (Viceroyalty of New Spain). It is an important testimony of the trans-cultural nature of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade.
