Antique European Chinoiserie Hand Carved Gilt Pagoda Wall Mirrors - A Pair

Details

Description

Pair of Elaborate Vintage Chinoiserie Giltwood Pagoda Mirrors, probably European.
Exceptional and highly decorative pair of vintage Chinoiserie-style giltwood mirrors, … Read more Pair of Elaborate Vintage Chinoiserie Giltwood Pagoda Mirrors, probably European.
Exceptional and highly decorative pair of vintage Chinoiserie-style giltwood mirrors, featuring elaborate pagoda-form cresting, hand-carved foliate ornament, painted Asian-inspired figural panels, pierced latticework, and richly sculptural botanical details.

These unusual mirrors reflect the long European fascination with Chinoiserie, the decorative tradition that developed from Europe's interest in Asian art and imagery and became particularly fashionable during the 18th century. European craftsmen interpreted Asian architectural and decorative motifs through their own Rococo vocabulary, resulting in distinctive pieces combining The pair is particularly impressive for the architectural quality of the upper sections. Each mirror rises to a dramatic pagoda-inspired canopy with sweeping, upturned terminals and a carved finial above. The canopy incorporates deeply carved radiating leaves and scrolling forms, giving the crest a wonderfully theatrical silhouette.

Below the pagoda crest is a decorative painted panel depicting an Asian-inspired figure within a landscape, accompanied by birds, foliage and calligraphic-style decoration. The two panels are complementary rather than identical, giving the pair the character of individually crafted works rather than mass-produced matching frames.

A pierced geometric lattice railing separates the painted upper section from the mirror below. The lattice is surrounded by extensive carved ornament, including scrolling foliage, flowers, leaves and architectural details. Particularly beautiful are the large central floral and foliate carvings beneath each painted panel, which transition into the tall mirror frame.
The long vertical sides are decorated with repeating carved botanical and leaf motifs, creating a strong sense of movement from the elaborate upper crest all the way down to the scrolling feet. The frames have considerable depth, with many elements projecting outward from the main frame. This is especially apparent in the carved leaves and scrolling elements along the sides.
The finish is a warm, light antique gold, rather than a bright modern metallic gold. The surface displays natural variation in tone, areas of darker shading and patina, small cracks, age-related wear and other surface characteristics that are integral to the appearance of the pieces. These details have intentionally been retained in the photographs so that the condition and character of the frames can be properly appreciated.
The mirror plates have a softly aged appearance and are shown with the reflected surroundings blurred in the listing photographs for presentation and privacy. The photographs are intended to provide an accurate representation of the decorative frames, finish, carving and visible condition.

Probable Origin & Period
The design appears to be European Chinoiserie rather than traditionally Chinese furniture. The combination of a European Rococo-style carved giltwood frame, dramatic pagoda crest, elaborate foliate carving, painted Asian-inspired scenes and architectural latticework is characteristic of the European interpretation of Chinoiserie.

There are documented historical precedents for this exact type of design. English cabinetmakers such as Thomas Chippendale incorporated pagodas, Chinese figures, birds and other Asian-inspired motifs into Rococo mirror designs, while documented Italian mirrors of the late 18th century were also made in the Chinese taste with pagoda canopies, fretwork and painted Chinoiserie figures., exotic birds, figures, landscapes, scrolling foliage and elaborate gilded carving. See less