CIRCA 1769-70, PROBABLY IRISH

Such mirrors wreathed by vines are often references to the festive wine-deity Bacchus and were favourable patterns for carvers as issued in Thomas Johnson's, Collection of Designs, 1758. Vines also featured in an overmantel mirror design executed by the architect Sir Robert Taylor (d. 1788); and is seen frequently on Irish mirrors such as the three oval giltwood pier glasses supplied for the dining-room at Castletown, Co. Kildare and attributed to the Dublin carver Richard Cranfield (d.1809), (see The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, London 2007, fig. 171). A mirror bearing the label of John Booker of Essex Bridge, Dublin (d. 1749) a recorded 'glass grinder' featuring grape vine carving around an oval plate was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 11 November 1999, lot 167. Naturalistic depictions of twisting vines were also used on table stands, a similar style can be seen on the table sold Christie's, London, 2 May 2002, lot 50 (£14,340).