Word of the Day: "CASSAPANCA"

Pronounced: "KAHS sah PON kah"

Detail from an exceptional 17th c. cassapanca (for more photos see below):

But what exactly is a cassapanca? That's a multiple choice question and here it is (good luck):

Cassapanca is defined as:

1. That great movie with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman ("Play it again Sam.") And for you movie afficionados out there, the song Bogie wanted played again and again was what? If you guessed "La Cucaracha", you're wrong but I love your answer.

2. "Cassaponca" is actually a lovely Mexican villa in Puerto Vallarta owned by Vicki Cristina Barcelona Ponca (You've all heard the warm tipico bienvenudo greeting: "Mi casaponca es su casaponca").

3. A cassapanca is a long carved wooden bench with a back and sometimes arms that was first created in the Italian Renaissance; with some cassepanche the seat lifts up to reveal a chest for storage. The finest cassepanche were often wedding gifts and would be embellished with intricate painted images. BTW, this is the correct answer. Duh.

Shown below is the most beautiful pair of cassepanche I ever saw (and sold). And to this day I'm thankful that the buyers are serious collectors who treasure them and will preserve them for future generations. Finding a good home for great antiques is important. If you think about it, it's the ultimate in recycling.

List price: These are currently in a private collection and unavailable for sale.