Textiles in the women’s estrados of 17th-century Spain

Abstract

The estrado was an area reserved for women, which experienced one of its most notable periods in 17th-century Spanish homes. This space could be located in up to three rooms of the house, which meant that the textile decoration became very significant. The base of the estrado was a carpet, backed by a tapestry or hanging, and the space created was filled with cushions, pillows, mattresses, chairs and tables, among other items, all upholstered or covered with rich fabrics. This work addresses the use and arrangement of these textiles, their stylistic characteristics, as well as those of the furniture they cover; the manufacturers or workshops that made them, and the trimmings with which they were completed.