Mirror, beadwork frame, English, 1662

Looking glass or mirror, seven inches wide, in a wide frame with beadwork decoration arranged in two full-height verticals and two short horizontal panels top and bottom. Yellow cord runs between the vertical and horizontal panels.

Design
In each corner a medallion containing a figure of a woman, one of them being Diana with a bow and dog, the others represented with a horse, an alligator, and a cock. In the upper rectangle are three seated women (possibly the three Fates spinning) with a naked recumbent man below. To the left is Venus with Cupid and a peacock and, above, her chariot drawn by a pair of doves. To the right is a clothed woman, possibly Charity, with three naked children. Below is a composition of flowers, birds and beasts. Along the upper edge the inscription: 'IM6 6W2'. The sight and back edges of the frame are lined with tooled brown leather, worked in a geometric pattern.

2018 - in a modern glazed case

Bequeathed by Sir Eric Maclagan

Bequeathed by Sir Eric Maclagan, Trinity College, Oxford [54/4038]. Maclagan was a former director of the V&A (1924-1945), having first joined the Museum as an Assistant in the Department of Textiles in 1905, he became Keeper of that department in 1908.

On long-term loan to Tredegar House (National Trust) 1978-2018.

Returned from loan to The National Trust (Tredegar House) in 2018.

W.3-1952