Late Victorian Ebonised Oval Bevelled Wall Mirror, 1890

Details

Description

A striking late 19th-century oval wall mirror with a richly decorated ebonised frame and beautifully aged bevelled mirror plate.

Dating … Read more A striking late 19th-century oval wall mirror with a richly decorated ebonised frame and beautifully aged bevelled mirror plate.

Dating from the late Victorian period, circa 1890–1900, the substantial oval frame is decorated throughout with deeply modelled scrolling foliage and acanthus-inspired motifs, giving the piece a strong Baroque Revival character. The dark ebonised surface has developed extensive craquelure, rubbing and small areas of loss over many years, revealing warmer tones beneath and creating an especially characterful patina.

At the centre is a large bevelled mirror plate displaying pronounced age-related foxing, clouding and speckling across the silvering. Rather than detracting from the mirror, this atmospheric ageing gives the glass a wonderfully timeworn quality and makes the piece particularly suited to interiors where original character and patina are valued.

The reverse retains its substantial timber backing with two metal hanging plates positioned along the upper edge.

with its generous 91.5 cm width, the mirror works particularly well hung horizontally above a console table, chest of drawers or fireplace, while its dark sculptural frame provides an effective contrast against pale plaster, stone and neutral interiors. See less