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Lot Essay
This serpentined mirror-bordered frame is conceived in the George III French picturesque manner. Its Roman husk-festooned, scrolled and acanthus-wrapped ribbons evolved from a design executed in the late 1750s by William and John Linnell, cabinet-makers and upholsterers of Berkeley Square (H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol. II, fig. 186). A pair of related pier glasses, reusing old mirrors, was supplied to Sir Molyneux Cope, 7th Baronet (d. 1765) for Bramshill, Hampshire.
This pier glass reflects the influence of John Linnell, who was the author of A New Book of Ornaments useful for silver-smith's etc., 1760 and its architecture reflects the movement towards a more chaste classical elegance during the 1760s. These same characteristics, as well as the distinctive dished mirrored apron, is shared on a mirror sold anonymously in these Rooms, 9 July 1998, lot 43.
A gilding analysis undertaken by Catherine Hassall of University College London reveals that this mirror was orginally silvered, with the original decoration being a gesso ground followed by a light grey undercoat of chalk and charcoal black, and then silver leaf which had tarnished by the time of gilding.
This pier glass reflects the influence of John Linnell, who was the author of A New Book of Ornaments useful for silver-smith's etc., 1760 and its architecture reflects the movement towards a more chaste classical elegance during the 1760s. These same characteristics, as well as the distinctive dished mirrored apron, is shared on a mirror sold anonymously in these Rooms, 9 July 1998, lot 43.
A gilding analysis undertaken by Catherine Hassall of University College London reveals that this mirror was orginally silvered, with the original decoration being a gesso ground followed by a light grey undercoat of chalk and charcoal black, and then silver leaf which had tarnished by the time of gilding.