Napoleon III French Gold Mirror, Circa 1880

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Grand mirror from France’s Napoleon III period. This piece is from the 19th century, circa 1880. The frame is made … Read more Grand mirror from France’s Napoleon III period. This piece is from the 19th century, circa 1880. The frame is made of hand-carved wood with elaborate, rich décor of Acanthus leaves throughout. There is also a frame around the central oval mirror. The mirror is beveled and all original. The mirror is fully adorned with 23 carat gold leafing that covers the beautifully applied sienna glaze underneath. This is a superb example of these striking, ornate mirrors that adorned lavish Parisian interiors in the buildings designed by the architect Hausmann. It is ready to hang. The mirror is in excellent antique condition – the photos accurately depict the condition.

The Napoleon III style, named after Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who ruled from 1852 to 1870 (also referred to as the Second Empire), stands as one of the most unique styles ever produced. The eclecticism of the Second Empire is reflected in the association of past tradition with the development of modernism. The Napoleon III-”style” was in fact more of a combination of different styles from past centuries adapted to the modern era in order to correspond to a time of dynamic, innovative transformation. Instead of drawing their inspiration from a single period, the artists and decorators from the Second Empire drew indiscriminately, with joyful exuberance, from all sources. This mirror draws on details from the Baroque style, including the highly decorated frame. See less