LATE 17TH CENTURY, PARTIALLY REFRAMED CIRCA 1725, POSSIBLY BY JOHN BELCHIER

Details

A WILLIAM AND MARY GILTWOOD PIER MIRROR
LATE 17TH CENTURY, PARTIALLY REFRAMED CIRCA 1725, POSSIBLY BY JOHN BELCHIER
With elaborate pierced strapwork cresting, centred by a stylised plume above a divided bevelled plate with double-arched upper section, the rectangular lower section with strapwork-decorated, cut-gesso frame, the inner slip replaced in the early 19th century, minor losses, re-gilt
84 ¾ in. (215 cm.) high; 33 ¾ in. (85.5 cm.) wide
Please note that 100% of the hammer proceeds from this auction will be paid to the Sandys Trust, registered charity number: 1168357, with the exception of limited deductions towards sale costs across the auction which cannot be accurately calculated at this time, capped at a total of £10,000.

Provenance

Probably, Samuel, 1st Baron Sandys (1695-1770), and by descent.

Sale room notice

Please note that the top mirror plate has cracked and there has been some minor damage and repair to the upper part of this frame since the mirror was catalogued and photographed. This lot now carries a revised estimate of £8,000-12,000 and is sold as seen.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Adrian Hume-Sayer Director, Specialist

Lot Essay

The outer frame with refined cut-gesso decoration appears to have been commissioned to encase the original slender outer frame of the earlier plates and has been designed to visually support the William & Mary cresting, contemporary with this earlier mirror. Close examination of the structure of this additional outer framing of the lower part of the mirror, notably the method of bracing employed to the reverse of the joints to the bottom corners, suggests that this was carried out in the same workshop as lot 46 was made and it is on these grounds that the possible association with John Belchier (fl.1699 - d.1753) has been established (see also lots 110 & 120). Interestingly, the earlier mirror at the core appears to have more in common with the work Belchier's contemporaries, James Moore (1670-1726) and his business partner, John Gumley (fl. 1691-1727), the cresting bears particularly close comparison with mirrors associated with the partnership in the collection of The National Trust at Beningborough Hall, North Yorkshire (NT 1190823.1).

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