A GEORGE III GILT CARTON PIERRE MIRROR

The overall design of this mirror with its heart-shaped plate surmounted by a classical urn and draped with husk garlands is based on a drawing by John Linnell of 1776 for a wall light (reproduced in H. Hayward, 'The Drawings of John Linnell in the Victoria and Albert Museum,' Furniture History, 1969, pl. 68). The basic heart shape derives from Robert Adam's designs of 1768 for the Earl of Coventry and 1770 for Robert Child at Osterley Park, Middlesex. A set of six girandoles based on this design were executed for Osterley and are illustrated in E. Harris, The Furniture of Robert Adam, 1963, pl. 86.