A REGENCY EBONISED AND PARCEL-GILT PIER GLASS

The overmantel mirror, with its paired reeded pillars and Grecian-black ribbon bands studded with golden stars or sunbursts is conceived in the French antique manner introduced around 1800 and popularised by the connoisseur Thomas Hope's Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807. Its form relates to his Drawing Room overmantel mirror; while the 'night' black marble chimneypiece of his adjoining 'Aurora' room was 'studded with golden stars', and the picture frames of his Egyptian room were studded with similar sunbursts (pls. VI, VII and VIII).