Gonzalo Eguiguren Gallery has lent eight works to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural at the Museo de América, Madrid. The exhibition explores the cultural exchanges embodied in the lacquered wooden trays of New Spain, bringing them into dialogue with painting, silverwork and other decorative arts.
Opening: 21 May 2026.
Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026.
The loans comprise Santa Bárbara by Bartolomé de Arenas; a Mexican silver Salvilla; Nuestra Señora de la Salud de Pátzcuaro by José Manuel de la Cerda; an Almohadilla (costurero); two painted bateas, including one with a Carmelite coat of arms; a Plato hondo decorated with mopa-mopa resin from Pasto; and a lacquered batea from Peribán.
Visit the Museo de América exhibition page
Eight works on loan
Santa Bárbara
Bartolomé de Arenas
17th century. Oil and lacquer on canvas. 102 × 75 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
Its combination of oil paint and lacquer allows the relationship between painting and decorative techniques in New Spain to be explored.
Salvilla
Unidentified silversmith, Mexico City, Viceroyalty of New Spain
1673–1687. Silver, turned, repoussé, forged, pierced and bright-cut. 50.5 × 34.8 × 5 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
The piece brings silverwork into the exhibition’s dialogue on the forms, uses and decoration of trays.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud de Pátzcuaro
José Manuel de la Cerda
Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Viceroyalty of New Spain. 18th century. Oil on canvas mounted on wood. 33 × 24.5 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
José Manuel de la Cerda’s painting extends the exhibition’s scope to devotional painting and the artistic culture of Pátzcuaro.
Almohadilla (costurero)
Unidentified maker, Pátzcuaro, Viceroyalty of New Spain
c. 1820. Lacquered wood and silver fittings. 14 × 42 × 12 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
This sewing box places Pátzcuaro lacquer within the setting of furniture and domestic objects.
Batea con escudo carmelita
Unidentified artist, Viceroyalty of New Spain
18th century. Polychromed wood (falso maque). 10 × 68.5 × 66.5 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
Its Carmelite coat of arms and painted decoration allow religious emblems and the technique of falso maque to be explored.
Batea de falso maque
Unidentified artist, Viceroyalty of New Spain
17th century. Polychromed wood. 48.5 × 47 × 8.5 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
The polychromed wood allows falso maque to be compared with the different lacquer techniques assembled in the exhibition.
Plato hondo
Unidentified maker, Pasto, Viceroyalty of Peru
18th century. Wood with applied mopa-mopa resin. Diameter: 37.5 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
Barniz de Pasto, made with mopa-mopa resin, extends the comparison to other American traditions of decorating wood.
Batea de Peribán
Unidentified maker, Peribán, Viceroyalty of New Spain
17th century. Lacquered wood. Diameter: 57 cm.
On loan to Bateas novohispanas. Una encrucijada cultural
Museo de América, Madrid
Opening: 21 May 2026 · Public visiting dates: 22 May–18 October 2026
The tray represents the Peribán tradition within the exhibition’s study of New Spain’s lacquer production centres.