The use of the scallop shells denotes that the vargueño has been on a pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela. The lock is a glorious thing in itself, and, once it’s undone, the front of the vargueño opens downwards to make a flat top supported by “lopers” – long pieces of wood which you pull outwards, with beautifully carved scallop shell ends. The interior is completely fitted with all manner of drawers and little cupboards, decorated with architectural details in ivory and giltwood, with little wooden scallop shell knobs. It is fun to imagine what might have been stored in them on a long journey. Jewels, prayer books, letters, seals, powders, keys and papers, perhaps. It would certainly have contained anything small that needed to be treasured and guarded closely.
One of these is the Vargueño (or Bargueño), or travelling chest, which comes from Spain and dates from the mid 17 th century. It is a fine example of its kind, made of Spanish walnut, with Toledo steel carrying handles. It sits on a carved stand, and nobody knows whether this, which would have been made at the same time, would have gone on the journey as well or would have been left at home. Travel seems a distant prospect at the moment, but there are many objects in the House which come from or recall far-off lands, and it makes me happy to think that they have come to rest quietly in this particular corner of West Sussex, in this most English of houses. Washing the many sets of “casement curtains” (the white cotton curtains that help protect the rooms from the light) is in itself a painstaking and time-consuming job, even before one piece of furniture is uncovered or a spider’s web dusted away.Īlthough slightly later than planned, it is still good to be able to start the tasks we normally associate with the start of a new open season. This is careful and systematic work, as they take things out of their winter covers and wrappings, and dust and polish and check and put back in place after the long months of hibernation.
It is a very busy time at Parham, as our housekeepers Christine and Christine are continuing the big task of preparing for opening the House to visitors, which we hope will be at the end of June.