Toledo Damascene Urn, Zamboanga Style

This beautiful damascene urn is a wonderful example of Toledo metalwork. The incredibly fine oxidized steel with gold inlay is congruent with the organic motifs used by craftsmen in the Zamboanga Peninsula of the Philippines. The Spanish first arrived in Zamboanga in 1521, establishing a colony which supported troops and missionaries and effectively gave Spain a foothold in Asia. Once the Spanish discovered the area was already known for its rich deposits of steel and other metals, Toledo metalworkers soon made their way to the colony, bringing with them their world-renowned damascene techniques. This style of metalwork flourished in Zamboanga, along with other aspects of Hispanic culture, so much so that even today the area is coined as "Asia's Latin City." 

Circa 1880

7 1/4" high