Carved Giltwood Sunburst Convex Wall Mirror, 1950s

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This sunburst mirror reflects the sculptural taste for radiating wall mirrors that became popular through the 1950s, combining a convex … Read more This sunburst mirror reflects the sculptural taste for radiating wall mirrors that became popular through the 1950s, combining a convex central glass with a dense ring of carved wooden rays finished in gold leaf. The rays vary in length and profile, with stepped and fluted sections, radiating outward from a carved rope-twist inner frame that holds the mirror plate. The gilding shows the warm, slightly uneven tone typical of hand-applied gold leaf over carved wood, giving the piece depth and movement as light catches the different facets of the rays. At the center, the convex glass, sometimes called a witch's eye or sorcerer's eye mirror, curves outward and compresses the reflected room into a small, rounded image, a technique used historically both for decoration and, in earlier centuries, to ward off misfortune. Sunburst mirrors of this kind became a signature of mid-century interiors, valued for the graphic, almost architectural presence they bring to a wall despite their compact size. This example works well above a console, over a fireplace mantel, or in an entryway, where its radiating form and metallic finish catch ambient light from multiple angles. Collectors of mid-century wall decor and sunburst design look for pieces with this level of carving detail and a well-defined convex mirror plate, unlike the flat glass often found in later reproductions. See less