A REGENCY GILTWOOD, GILT-COMPOSITION AND WHITE-PAINTED OVERMANTEL MIRROR

BY THOMAS FENTHAM, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A REGENCY GILTWOOD, GILT-COMPOSITION AND WHITE-PAINTED OVERMANTEL MIRROR
BY THOMAS FENTHAM, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
With a circular convex plate surrounded by foliate spandrels, flanked on each side by a rectangular plate, below a scrolling foliate frieze centred by a mask of Venus, below flowered trellis, the sphere-enriched cornice surmounted by an eagle, the sides with reeded columns, with maker's printed paper label 'THOMAS FENTHAM No. 136, STRAND NEAR SOMERSET HOUSE, Manufacturer of Looking-Glasses, CONVEX and CONCAVE MIRRORS AND ALL SORTS OF PICTURE and GLASS FRAMES, GLASS for EXPORTATION', with chalk inscription 'Pieces Loose Before Removal' and inscribed in pencil '585', later white-painted and re-gilt
63 in. (160 cm.) high; 61¾ in. (157 cm.) wide

Provenance

Bought from Pelham Galleries, London, 1987.

Exhibited

C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, Leeds, 1996, p. 203, fig. 342.

Lot Essay

Thomas Fentham, 'Carver and Glass grinder' is recorded working at the No.136 Strand Street address from 1794-1820. Fentham, who 'catered to an export business' was listed at various locations in London from 1777. He is known to have carried out work at Erddig Castle, Wales for the State Rooms and was almost certainly responsible for the gilt pier tables in the Gallery (see G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 296).

Another labelled mirror of the same unusual form is illustrated in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840 1996, p. 203, fig. 343 and was sold by Christie's, London, 9 April 1992, lot 36. A pier mirror with the same scroll frieze but with central medallion enclosing a lion mask is illustrated ibid., p. 202, fig.341.

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