George II Giltwood Mirror, c. 1750

George II Giltwood Mirror
English, circa 1750

The original shaped and beveled mercury glass plate within an elaborately carved frame surmounted by a swan-neck pediment centered by a foliate cartouche over a punched diaper ground. The borders richly worked with scrolling acanthus, shells, and strapwork carving, the lower apron with pierced scrolls and a central shell motif. Retaining substantial original surface with later dry scraping revealing traces of the early gilding throughout.

What distinguishes the mirror is the remarkable liveliness of the carving and the unusual warmth of the exposed surface. The dry scraped finish has softened the formality often associated with George II mirrors, allowing the underlying decoration and handwork to read with unusual clarity. Particularly successful is the relationship between the animated outer frame and the restrained proportions of the mirror plate itself.

The design belongs to the richly ornamental Palladian and early rococo vocabulary fashionable in England during the middle of the 18th century, combining a swan-neck pediment, scrolling acanthus, shell ornament, and diapered grounds in a particularly fluid and confident manner.

The mirror retains considerable presence despite its relatively modest scale. Equally appealing is the mellow quality of the exposed gesso and bole beneath the surviving gilding, giving the surface a soft, clay-like quality difficult to reproduce artificially.