Pair of George II Giltwood Mirrors, c.1760

Pair of George II Giltwood Mirrors
English, circa 1760

With later antique oval mercury plates within finely carved openwork frames, the lively and asymmetrical ornament composed of scrolling acanthus, foliate sprays, pierced rocaille elements, and stylized shell motifs, surmounted by boldly carved crestings and terminating in richly modeled lower crests.

Particularly appealing is the quality of the carving and the overall silhouette of the frames. The warm surviving gilding, softened over time, gives the mirrors an especially attractive surface and depth of color.

The mirrors reflect a particularly expressive vernacular interpretation of the English Rococo, with fluid carving and animated ornament lending the pair an unusually lively and expressive presence. The finely foxed mercury plates complement the carving and reinforce the distinctly eighteenth-century character of the pair.

Decorative yet architectural, the mirrors work equally well in traditional interiors or as contrasting focal points within more contemporary settings.