Fine Regency Revival Giltwood & Bronze Egyptian Revival Overmantel Mirror
£2,800.00
Description
This is an exceptionally striking and grand early-to-mid 20th-century Regency Revival giltwood and bronze overmantel wall mirror, designed in the opulent Egyptian Revival taste. This statement piece beautifully replicates the rigorous, exotic neo-classical designs popularized during the early 19th century by tastemakers such as Thomas Hope and Baron Vivant Denon following Napoleon’s Egyptian campaigns.
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Fine Regency Revival Giltwood & Bronze Egyptian Revival Overmantel Mirror
This is an exceptionally striking and grand early-to-mid 20th-century Regency Revival giltwood and bronze overmantel wall mirror, designed in the opulent Egyptian Revival taste. This statement piece beautifully replicates the rigorous, exotic neo-classical designs popularised during the early 19th century by tastemakers such as Thomas Hope and Baron Vivant Denon following Napoleon’s Egyptian campaigns.
The mirror features a commanding, architecturally tapered frame with classic pilaster sides, heavily finished in a rich, multi-tonal gilding that boasts an authentic, warm country-house patination. The upper corners are anchored by two masterfully cast, dark patinated bronze pharaonic herms or sphinx heads, wearing traditional royal nemes headdresses. These bronze elements contrast magnificently against the bright giltwood body. The columns taper down to neat, block feet, enclosing a substantial piece of premium glass. This mirror is a textbook example of high-end revivalist furniture making, capturing all the dramatic severity and historic gravitas of the original Regency era.
History, Provenance & Origin
Object Type: Egyptian Revival Overmantel Wall Mirror
Period: Regency Revival / Mid-20th Century (Circa 1930–1950)
Origin: United Kingdom
Materials: Giltwood and composition frame, patinated cast bronze mountings, heavy bevelled mirror plate.
Ornamentation: Pair of patinated bronze Egyptian pharaoh bust capitals.
Provenance: Sourced from a private country house in the South of England.
Dealer’s Comments
"This mirror has absolute, unadulterated 'wall power.' The Egyptian Revival aesthetic is one of the most exciting and enduring chapters in interior design history, and this piece executes it beautifully. The contrast between the heavy, dark patinated bronze pharaoh heads and the warm, reflective glow of the giltwood frame is pure theater. Original 1810 examples of this exact Thomas Hope style easily run into five figures, making a high-quality mid-century revival piece like this incredibly commercial. It offers the exact same grand, stately presence and architectural weight, but with stable, robust structural integrity. It is the ultimate trophy piece to anchor a grand fireplace, a main hallway console, or a moody, sophisticated dining room scheme."
Condition Report
This mirror is in excellent antique-showroom condition. The giltwood and composition frame is structurally solid, stable, and completely intact with no missing molding or historic losses. The gilding retains a gorgeous, deep, glowing luster with only minor, attractive age-appropriate rubbing and light historic dusting to the recesses. The cast bronze Egyptian busts are securely mounted and retain their crisp, dark patination. The mirror glass is exceptionally clean, clear, and bright, with no significant foxing, clouding, or scratching, making it completely ready for immediate high-end placement.
Mirror plate is original.
Measurements
Height:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 83 cm /Â Â Â 32.7 inch
Width:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 66 cm /Â Â Â 26 inch
Depth:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14 cm /Â Â Â 5.5 inch
Weight:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6.6 k.g. /Â Â 14.6 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
