Doe and Hope

Description

The large Regency period giltwood and gesso ‘porthole’ wall mirror having the original convex mirror plate with ebonised slip, surrounded by a thick moulded gilt gesso frame with ribbon crestings, the whole with a good deal of character, patination and colour, surviving from the first quarter of the nineteenth century.

The mirror is in very attractive, nigh-on totally original condition. The original plate glass has some attractive spotting and foxing in some areas, mainly towards the centre top section. The gilding is original and there is a nice craquelure to the surface with some small losses throughout to the frame. The reverse shows most of the original paper backing.

The convex shape was very popular in the Regency period and appeared in many forms, often with the addition of exotic animals, flora and other decoration. This one is larger than most and its rather simple frame is pleasing and the absence of the corvetto balls makes for a nice change. Dante Gabriel Rosetti had two convex mirrors rather like this in his sitting room at 16 Cheyne Walk, London.

The most original and indeed probably the largest of its type we have yet seen stunning.