ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN LINNELL, CIRCA 1760

Details

A GEORGE III GILTWOOD OVERMANTEL MIRROR
ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN LINNELL, CIRCA 1760
Of shaped triangular form composed of foliate C-scrolls, hung with flowerhead and foliate swags, centred by a circular convex plate in a ribbon and flowerhead moulded border and rockwork frame, regilt, one backboard stencilled '50 FT..X', the plates resilvered or replaced
70 x 77½ in. (178 x 197 cm.)

Special notice

This lot will be sold under the Alpha scheme. If you are an EU Purchaser, there is effectively no change: VAT is charged at 17.5% on the buyer''s premium ONLY on a VAT inclusive basis. VAT is accounted for under the auctioneer''s margin scheme. If you are a non-EU Purchaser: VAT, at 17.5%, will be payable on both the hammer price and the buyer''s premium. VAT on the hammer will be refunded upon receipt of export documentation by the VAT department. Non-EU trading businesses can receive a further VAT refund on the buyer''s premium directly from HM Revenue and Customs.

Lot Essay

The triumphal arched frame, with Roman medallion wreathed by a flowered and water-scalloped cartouche, is also garlanded with flowers festooned from 'picturesque' scrolls of Roman acanthus. It relates to an overmantel pattern, incorporating a landscape vignette, that was invented by the architect John Crunden (d. 1835) and published in The Chimney-Piece Maker's Daily Assistant, 1766 (pl. 27). Similar interlaced flower garlands feature on several mirror patterns of circa 1755-1760 by John Linnell (H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, figs. 187-190).
An almost identical overmantel mirror was sold anonymously, Christie's London, 23 November 2006, lot 61 (£60,000 including premium).

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