19th Century Italian Neoclassical Carved Giltwood Mirror

Details

Description

A 19th century Italian neoclassical giltwood mirror, hand carved and finished in a warm, softly burnished gold that catches the … Read more A 19th century Italian neoclassical giltwood mirror, hand carved and finished in a warm, softly burnished gold that catches the light across every curve. A bouquet of blossoms rises at the summit, cradled by a pair of bold scrolls and an upright acanthus plume, with bellflower pendants and leafy sprays cascading toward the scrolled shoulders. Garlands of roses tied with fluttering ribbon trail down each side, and at the base a double floral garland with foliate scrolls completes the frame in the same graceful symmetry.
The frame is carved entirely by hand, then prepared with gesso and gilded in the traditional Italian manner, giving the gold its depth and gentle patina. A finely beaded molding outlines the original mirror plate, hand beveled to follow the shaped contours of the frame. In the ornamental language of the period, acanthus symbolized endurance and the rose stood for beauty and abundance, motifs chosen to bring grace and good fortune into the home.
Italian carvers of the late 19th century drew freely on the elegance of earlier centuries, uniting classical order with the flowing ornament of the Rococo in exuberant, perfectly balanced compositions. Hang it above a console in an entry, over a mantel, or above a vanity in a bedroom or powder room, where the gilding brings warmth to traditional and contemporary interiors alike.
Circa 1890s
Measures 60H x 35.5W x 3D
Available at Inessa Stewart's Antiques, Dallas Design District, Dallas, Texas. See less