Doe and Hope

Description

The deep dished Regency period giltwood and gesso ‘porthole’ wall mirror having the original convex mirror plate with ebonised mahogany slip, surrounded by a moulded gilt gesso frame with corvetto balls, 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, aside from the absence of the surmount and apron which we think may have been present due to there being small abscesses to the top and bottom of the rim which doesn’t retract from the whole but indicates this mirror used to have more ornate cresting at one stage. The original plate glass has consistent spotting and foxing to the whole. The gilding is original and there is a nice craquelure to the surface with some small losses throughout to the frame. The reverse shows some of the original paper backing still remaining.

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. Dante Gabriel Rossetti had two convex mirrors rather like this in his sitting room at 16 Cheyne Walk, London.

A beautiful mirror with real depth both in colour and size.