Mirror
1685-1690 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This looking-glass frame combines two forms of decoration that were popular hobbies in late seventeenth-century England. All the moulded elements are painted in imitation of Japanese black lacquer, using a technique called japanning. Motifs such as the pair of figures with a parasol that features on the cresting were copied from pattern books, the most famous of which is A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing published in 1688 by Stalker & Parker. This volume also provided recipes for making varnishes for japanning.
The moulded elements form compartments, lined in silk twill, in which scrolling foliage, swans and vases of flowers are depicted in rolled paper. This technique, often called quilling or paper filigree, was used to make pictures and to decorate all sorts of three-dimensional objects. In this fine example the rolled paper is attached to the sides of the compartments rather than the base, allowing the silk lining to show underneath clearly.
The breadth of the frame and its elaborate decoration act as a foil for the small rectangle of mirror glass (this plate probably a replacement). Mirror glass was still an expensive luxury in the seventeenth century and most looking glasses of this period have substantial frames to accentuate and draw attention to this extravagant item of furnishing.
The moulded elements form compartments, lined in silk twill, in which scrolling foliage, swans and vases of flowers are depicted in rolled paper. This technique, often called quilling or paper filigree, was used to make pictures and to decorate all sorts of three-dimensional objects. In this fine example the rolled paper is attached to the sides of the compartments rather than the base, allowing the silk lining to show underneath clearly.
The breadth of the frame and its elaborate decoration act as a foil for the small rectangle of mirror glass (this plate probably a replacement). Mirror glass was still an expensive luxury in the seventeenth century and most looking glasses of this period have substantial frames to accentuate and draw attention to this extravagant item of furnishing.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Japanned wood set with mirror glass and rolled paper |
| Brief description | Mirror, frame of wood decorated with japanning and filigree paperwork, English, c.1685-90 |
| Physical description | Rectangular mirror frame with semicircular cresting japanned in black, gold and red and with glazed sections containing rolled paper in the form of flowers, birds, foliage and vases. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Object history | Mirror, purchased from Miss T Atkins, 13 Bramerton Street, London SW3, £20 Notes from R.P. 44/323 17/3/44 Objects submitted on Approval form lists: 1 mirror, lacquer and paper work" 20/3/44 Handwritten file note of (NS?) refers to "a remarkable mirror - an effective combination of lacquer and rolled paperwork". 20/3/44 Handwritten notes of (CM?) attempts to label the paperwork "Battlia" or "Battalia Pie" referring to the French "beatillies", a word for convent work of various kinds, but he is uncertain of its accuracy here. He also notes, again without certainty, that the Germans call this rolled paperwork "klosterarbeit". |
| Historical context | Comparable example: sold Sotheby's London, 4/12/2014, lot 457; a cream and polychrome japanned and paperwork mirror c1690, the paperwork by Rachael Sambrooke who married into the Burne family in 1700 (previously sold Sotheby's London, 20/10/1972 lot 52 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This looking-glass frame combines two forms of decoration that were popular hobbies in late seventeenth-century England. All the moulded elements are painted in imitation of Japanese black lacquer, using a technique called japanning. Motifs such as the pair of figures with a parasol that features on the cresting were copied from pattern books, the most famous of which is A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing published in 1688 by Stalker & Parker. This volume also provided recipes for making varnishes for japanning. The moulded elements form compartments, lined in silk twill, in which scrolling foliage, swans and vases of flowers are depicted in rolled paper. This technique, often called quilling or paper filigree, was used to make pictures and to decorate all sorts of three-dimensional objects. In this fine example the rolled paper is attached to the sides of the compartments rather than the base, allowing the silk lining to show underneath clearly. The breadth of the frame and its elaborate decoration act as a foil for the small rectangle of mirror glass (this plate probably a replacement). Mirror glass was still an expensive luxury in the seventeenth century and most looking glasses of this period have substantial frames to accentuate and draw attention to this extravagant item of furnishing. |
| Bibliographic reference | WILLS, Geoffrey: English Looking Glasses. A study of the Glass, Frames and Makers (1670 - 1820). (Cranbury, N.J., 1965), p.65 |
| Other number | 1944/323 - RF number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.4-1944 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | September 24, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
