Italian Carved Giltwood Mirror With Acanthus Pediment, 19th Century

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A fine 19th Century Italian Baroque carved giltwood mirror surmounted by an elaborate acanthus and scroll pediment. The pediment is … Read more A fine 19th Century Italian Baroque carved giltwood mirror surmounted by an elaborate acanthus and scroll pediment. The pediment is the outstanding feature of the piece, carved in full relief with a central acanthus finial issuing scrolling foliage and volutes that sweep outward and downward to pierced foliate ear pieces at the upper corners of the frame. The boldness of the carving and the depth of the relief suggest a trained workshop carver. The moulded frame is simple by comparison, its restraint serving to focus attention to the cresting above.
The gilding throughout is original water gilding applied over a red bole ground, now pleasingly worn to reveal the warm terracotta beneath at the high points of the carving, a characteristic and highly desirable feature of genuinely aged giltwood.
The original mirror plate is retained and shows appropriate foxing and age-related silvering loss consistent with its period, adding considerably to the authenticity and charm of the piece. See less