Woodcarving at the Casa Jiménez-Franchi

Woodcarving at the Casa Jiménez-Franchi

Image by Secret Tenerife

Click to enlargeDid you notice in the last image that the person standing on the stairs was pointing up at something? They were pointing towards the niche - in which there is a carved figure of a monk with a candle and a toasting fork (I think) - above these carved doors on the landing - one of the finest pieces of wood carving in this house, along with the carved wooden skirting board and the two "dado rails" set into the wall. Plus the staircase and the balcony we've already seen.

Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) - the finest and most famous English woodcarver of all time - be scared: whoever - I wish I had a name - did the carving in the Casa Jiménez-Franchi could certainly give you a run for your money!

What is interesting is that the Casa Jiménez-Franchi, built in around 1642, pre-dates Gibbons' birth by a mere 6 years. Of Gibbons, it is said that "His work includes 99% of the time (with the exception of religious carvings) a 5 petal flower like a Periwinkle or a Tudor rose." Here also, we can see a motif that is very reminiscent of the Tudor rose, albeit with more petals and probably signifies that it was the very latest fashion of its time.

It seems to me too that the relatively nouveau riche nobility in the Canary Islands - wanting to show off their new wealth - were bringing some of the best artisans to the islands to adorn their homes. In La Orotava especially, one's senses are almost assaulted at every turn with ever more finely carved balconies and I think this had become a bit of a contest.

These photos are awful quality and hardly do the work justice - still, that may encourage you to go there and see it better for yourself. In the "flesh" this carving is breathtaking and, saving this best piece to last, I hope to have shown you why this house and the carpet museum are worth a visit.

Blogged at Tenerife Daily Photo

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