Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
An important and very rare ceremonial mirror with a triple inverted frame in finely beveled glass.
Each border is attached to the base by octagonal cabochons visible in the middle sections of the width and length.
Twisted glass rods mark the boundaries between the glasses.
The frame is encircled by a finely engraved gilded wood rod ; it is adorned with two acanthus clasp feet and topped by a rich openwork pediment.
The latter is centered on a stylized acanthus on an interlaced background and adorned with two large flower falls that fall to the sides.
High-quality carving, beautiful original gilding.
Very good condition ; original mercury glasses, basswood base and original hooks.
Minor wear restorations, part of a rod replaced and two cracked rims.
Venice, Murano glass workshop circa 1700.
Dimensions :
Total height : 174 cm ; Total width : 110 cm
Central glass ; Width : 59 cm ; Height : 80 cm
Our view :
Throughout the 18th century, mirrors were extremely valuable, and even under Louis XVI, small mirrors were worth the annual sum of a soldier.
In this period, the price often depended on the richness of the gilded wood border, but by the 17th century, mercury glass accounted for 90% of the value.
The process, invented in Venice, is still used in the Venetian glassworks then located on the island of Murano, to avoid the risk of fire.
Imported and envied the world over, Murano mirror glass is a luxury product reserved for a princely elite.
Gradually, the small models gave way to more formal pieces, whose borders of twisted baguettes and beveled cabochons illustrate the high level of craftsmanship achieved by Venetian artisans at the turn of the century.
Our example features magnificent bluish-gray glass, including a central mirror (80 cm x 59 cm), which is the maximum size that can be made by a glassblower, making our mirror one of the largest pieces made on the island during this period.
Because of their great fragility, few of these primitive mirrors have survived, often as frames, and rarely with their cabochons and gilded wood trim.
