George II Gilt Gesso Mirror

A rare and outstanding George II gesso gilt mirror, marked by a vast array of carved and applied decoration. Crowned with a spectacular broken pediment adorned with acanthus and flowers, the Palladian-style mirror showcases an elegant bead-and-reel border and fantastic adornments of scallops, scrolls and acanthus leaves. This gracious mirror beautifully reflects the “Antique” style championed by prominent Georgian designers James Gibbs and William Jones, both of whom featured this classical motif in their tomes on furniture making. Also, this particular style of mirror, known as a pier glass mirror, was especially popular, as they were used to create an interesting focal point on an otherwise dark wall between windows, and provided extra light thanks to integrated candle-arms. This mirror is a phenomenal example of Georgian craftsmanship at its finest. To find a mirror from the period, in such superb condition, is a rarity.

Circa 1760

52 ½” high x 26 ¾” wide

During the 17th and 18th centuries, mirrors were costly luxury items, for the difficulty and expense to produce glass suitable for a mirror confined their ownership to an exclusive minority. Since the process to produce mirrored glass was so costly and labor-intensive, the frames that surrounded these treasured items were important in both function and design, with the finest examples made by the most highly skilled furniture craftsmen of the era.