CIRCA 1775

Details

A GEORGE III MAHOGANY CHEVAL MIRROR-FIRESCREEN
CIRCA 1775
The rectangular rising plate with shaped pierced handle, between husk-carved uprights surmounted by pine-cone finials, the sides with height adjustable telescopic brass candle-branches, on moulded cabriole legs joined by a leaf-carved baluster stretcher
57¾ in. (146.5 cm.) high; 23½ in. (59.5 cm.) wide; 23 in. (58.5 cm.) deep

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This form of dressing-glass mirror, introduced to London by Parisian marchand-merciers in the late 18th century, was named in France after Cupid’s love 'Psyche', and evoked his enchanted palace described in the 'Egyptian' romance, The Golden Ass, by Apuleius. Lyric poetry is here recalled by poetic laurels issuing from 'Apollo' sunflowered tablets on the thyrsus-finialed pillars, whose truss-scrolled 'claws' and 'Etruscan' pearl-wreathed stretcher are flowered with triumphal Grecian palms. As the reeded urn candle-nozzles correspond to a pattern adopted by the celebrated Soho firm of John Mayhew (d. 1811) and William Ince (d. 1804), it is possible that they manufactured this early example of a 'Psyche' mirror (see their 'large gilt candlesticks' at Chirk Castle, Wales, in National Trust Guide, Chirk Castle, 1983, p. 13).

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