Lot Essay
John Booker (d. 1749) is recorded as a 'glass grinder' at 6 Essex Bridge, Dublin in 1728. His two sons, Francis (d. 1773) and John (d.1789) carried on the family business. Francis became Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1772. John continued with the firm and he is recorded in Peter Wilson's Dublin Direcorty until 1786 as a 'Looking glass seller, Essex Bridge' (D. Fitzgerald, 'A Family of Looking-glass merchants', Country Life, January 28, 1971, pp. 195-199).
They are renowned today for their architectural mirrors of Kentian style, with corinthian columns and broken pediments, such as the one sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 27 June, 1985, lot 130, which bore the trade label of Francis Booker. A pair from Charleville, Enniskerry was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 22 March 1979, lot 16, and a further mirror was sold by Mr. and Mrs. E. A. McGuire, from Newtown Park House, Dublin, Christie's house sale, 20 September 1976, lot 53. It is more unusual to find this form of vine-twisted mirror bearing the Booker label.
They are renowned today for their architectural mirrors of Kentian style, with corinthian columns and broken pediments, such as the one sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 27 June, 1985, lot 130, which bore the trade label of Francis Booker. A pair from Charleville, Enniskerry was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 22 March 1979, lot 16, and a further mirror was sold by Mr. and Mrs. E. A. McGuire, from Newtown Park House, Dublin, Christie's house sale, 20 September 1976, lot 53. It is more unusual to find this form of vine-twisted mirror bearing the Booker label.