Once we climb up the Main Stairway, we can see the western and eastern parts on both sides. We choose the left one, and we will visit the “lived house“, as the conservators of Viana Palace like to call it.

The first room we will visit is one of those used for hosting guests, the Black Bedroom, so called due to the dark colour of its furniture, such as the black lacquer with painting and incrustations of Filipino nacre. Thus, the taste for those distant and exotic elements prevails.

On the ceiling, an elegant lamp made with pink milk glass lights the room from the centre. We can also mention a wonderful carpet made in the Royal Tapestry Factory, decorated with cresting and different vegetable motifs matching the curtains and furniture.

The furniture of the Black Bedroom consists of seventeen pieces in papier-mâché and Napoleon III-style wood, from the 19th century, of which we can highlight a Royal Bed with its corresponding canopy, decorated with flowers, garlands and landscapes, where its rich polychromy and golden colours are mixed with the dark ones from the background. In front of the bed we can see a dressing side table with its bowl, jug, and spittoon in green milk glass. Over this, there is a picture with embroidered birds by Francisca Glanadell. Four small portraits and two landscapes with nacre complete the pictorial decoration of the bedroom; one of them is “The honoured artilleryman” by Antonio María Esquivel. Beneath them, we can see a chest of drawers.

Among all the rich and studied pieces of furniture of the Black Bedroom, I would like to conclude pointing out two pieces which, in our opinion, are particularly interesting. The first of them is a small Elizabethan chair from the 19th century, which, like the bed, is made in lacquered black wood and it is decorated with golden motifs, polychromy and nacre incrustations. The second one is an armchair made in a cast with pressed paper or papier-mâché also from the 19th century. It has surrounding arms and we can highlight the beautiful urban landscape on the back. Several authors mention the possibility that these works were carried out for the great world exhibitions of Paris or London, celebrated in the second half of the 19th century.

If you are wondering what to do in Córdoba, we recommend you visit Viana Palace hiring one of our guided tours. We will explain there a special chapter dedicated to the Black Bedroom. Choose to do high quality sightseeing with qualified staff. Do not hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.