EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A REGENCE VERRE EGLOMISE AND PIETRA PAESINA-MOUNTED GILTWOOD MIRROR
EARLY 18TH CENTURY
Of rectangular shape set with thirty small plates, each with concave-cut back creating convex mirrors, within a bevelled surround with red-foil backed panels with gold engraved chinoiserie motifs depicting figures amidst exotic lanscapes, within beaded and cabochon-filled foliate borders, the angles set with pietra paesina plaques, probably associated, one mirror-pane cracked, with suspension loop to the back
26¼ in. (66.5 cm.) x 20¾ in. (53 cm.)

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Lot Essay

With its exquisite Chinoiserie decoration embellished by foliate-carved mouldings, this mirror is a rare testimony of the shortly-lived verre eglomisé fashion in France in the early 1700's. Only a few examples have survived. These include a mirror from the Weiller Collection with very closely related decoration, sold Sotheby's, Monaco, 15 June 1996, lot 129, another example sold Sotheby's, Monaco, 24 June 1984, lot 3046 and a further, sold Ader Tajan, Paris, 28 September 1993, lot 149.
The oriental subjects depicted on this mirror are directly linked to the engravings published after the expedition of Nieuhof and the one of the Jesuits sent to China by Louis XIV in the late 1680's (A. Gruber et. al., L'Art décoratif en Europe. Classique et Baroque, Paris, 1992, p.286 and 302.

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