LATE 18TH CENTURY, ATTRIBUTED TO J.C. LILLIE

With its typical architectural design and finely painted urns this exceptional pair of mirrors demonstrates the handwriting of the Danish neoclassical architect and interior designer Joseph Christian Lillie (1760 - 1827), also known as J.C. Lillie. He was educated at the Royal Danish Academy and later Director of the Academy and Denmarks leading architect in the late 18th century, now referred to as 'The Father of Danish Classicism'. In 1790 Lillie did the interior design for Crown Prince and Regent Frederiks apartments both at Christiansborg Palace, and at Frederiksberg Palace. On November 3, 1790 he was appointed Interior Designer to the Danish Court. After a bankruptcy in 1798 due to the difficult economic conditions at the turn of the century he left Copenhagen and Denmark, and moved to Lübeck, where the second half of his career began. He became Director and Professor of Architecture, Perspective and Geometry at the Freie Zeichenschule in Lübeck in 1804 and Chief Architect in 1813.