Elegant French Giltwood Rococo Wall Mirror
£495.00
Description
This charming mirror is an exercise in sculptural fluidity, featuring a highly animated frame composed of sweeping C-scrolls, stylised acanthus foliage, and a prominent pierced cresting. The frame’s silhouette is distinctly irregular, a hallmark of the Rococo style, designed to break the rigid lines of traditional interior architecture.
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Delivery Leadtime
International delivery is estimated at 5-7 working days.
Full details will be confirmed during the ordering process.
Elegant French Giltwood Rococo Wall Mirror
This charming mirror is an exercise in sculptural fluidity, featuring a highly animated frame composed of sweeping C-scrolls, stylised acanthus foliage, and a prominent pierced cresting. The frame’s silhouette is distinctly irregular, a hallmark of the Rococo style, designed to break the rigid lines of traditional interior architecture.
The aperture follows an elegant, cartouche-like form, encased by heavily molded "compo" flourishes that retain a wonderful sense of movement. The gilding presents a rich, multi-tonal depth, with the burnished highlights catching the light against the more recessed, matte textures of the foliate carving.
During the mid-to-late 19th century, French workshops experienced a massive resurgence of interest in the Ancien Régime. Pieces like this were created for the burgeoning Parisian middle class who sought to emulate the Versailles aesthetic within more intimate, domestic settings. The use of a timber substrate with applied composition allowed craftsmen to achieve the intricate, swirling detail of the Rococo without the fragility of pure wood carving.
Dealer’s Comments
"In the world of French decorative arts, scale is everything. This mirror manages to pack the theatricality of a palace ballroom into a mere 41 centimeters. It is the perfect 'jewel' for a small gallery wall or an intimate powder room. What I find most appealing is the authentic wear to the gilding—you can see the red bole and the timber peeking through the high points, which provides that unmistakable 'shabby-chic' veracity that simply cannot be manufactured."
Condition Report
The frame is structurally sound with the sculptural elements remaining largely intact.
The original gilding exhibits a lovely, aged character with minor, stable cracking to the composition at the delicate extremities, consistent with age. There is visible rubbing to the gilt, revealing the warm underlying tones.
The mirror plate is well-seated. It shows minimal foxing, providing a clear and functional reflection.
The backing is secure, showing some historical wear and staining to the decorative paper, which adds to its archival charm.
Measurement
Height:Â Â Â Â Â Â 41 cm /Â Â Â 16.1 inch
Width:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26 cm /Â Â Â 10.2 inch
Depth:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 cm /Â Â Â Â 1.6 inch
Weight:Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.3 k.g. /Â Â 0.7 lbs
Cleaning, Polishing & Restoration
All our collections have been through our workshop and where possible, we always try to maintain the original finish preserving the patina and colour, some items are sympathetically restored and this is done by our own skilled craftsmen using only traditional methods
