antique large italian gilded florentine mirror 18th century - 145 x 119cm

A superbly carved and highly decorative large Florentine carved giltwood mirror, circa 1780 in date.

This mirror consists of a superbly carved gilt wooden frame with a beaded border with scrolling acanthus leaf decoration interspersed with grotesque winged male masques.It is certain to make a charming addition to that one special room in your home.Condition:In excellent original condition with original gilding, please see photos for confirmation of condition.Dimensions in cm:Height 145 x Width 119 x Depth 5Dimensions in inches:Height 4 foot, 9 inches x Width 3 foot, 11 inches x Depth 2 inches
Our reference: 08677
The earliest manufactured mirrors were pieces of polished stone such as obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass.In classical antiquity, mirrors were made of solid metal (bronze, later silver) and were too expensive for widespread use by common people; they were also prone tocorrosion. Due to the low reflectivity of polished metal, these mirrors also gave a darker image than modern ones, making them unsuitable for indoor use with the artificial lighting of the time.The method of making mirrors out ofplate glasswas invented by 16th-century Venetian glassmakers on the island ofMurano, who covered the back of the glass withmercury, obtaining near-perfect and undistorted reflection.For over one hundred years, Venetian mirrors installed in richly decorated frames served as luxury decorations for palaces throughout Europe, but the secret of the mercury process eventually arrived in London and Paris during the 17th century, due to industrial espionage. French workshops succeeded in large scale industrialization of the process, eventually making mirrors affordable to the masses.

Width (cm):

119

Height (cm):

145

Depth (cm):

5

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Regent Antiques Limited

We are one of the UK's premier furniture dealers and have been trading in London for three decades. We specialise in English and Continental furniture, silver, porcelain, and decorative items both antique and contemporary. We exhibit our collection in classy showrooms in our large warehouse very close to the centre of London.

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