Mirror
ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Object Type
This mirror, with its exuberantly carved pediments of lush acanthus foliage surmounted by an eagle, typifies the bold Regency style. Such mirrors were often hung at the end of a room to reflect the entire of the interior.
Time
Thomas Sheraton's entry for 'mirrors' in his Cabinet Dictionary (1803) describes only convex mirrors , which indicates their enormous popularity at the beginning of the 19th century. He noted that 'the perspective of the room in which they are suspended presents itself in the surface of the mirror, and produces an agreeable effect'. As a result of this, as well as their 'convenience of holding lights, they are now becoming universally in fashion and are considered both as a useful and ornamental piece of furniture'.
Materials & Making
By about 1795 the Ravenhead works at St Helen's, Lancashire, of the British Cast Plate Glass Manufacturers had mastered the technological difficulties of making large convex mirror glass. Convex mirrors had been produced in England previously, but on a much smaller scale for items such as shaving mirrors.
This mirror, with its exuberantly carved pediments of lush acanthus foliage surmounted by an eagle, typifies the bold Regency style. Such mirrors were often hung at the end of a room to reflect the entire of the interior.
Time
Thomas Sheraton's entry for 'mirrors' in his Cabinet Dictionary (1803) describes only convex mirrors , which indicates their enormous popularity at the beginning of the 19th century. He noted that 'the perspective of the room in which they are suspended presents itself in the surface of the mirror, and produces an agreeable effect'. As a result of this, as well as their 'convenience of holding lights, they are now becoming universally in fashion and are considered both as a useful and ornamental piece of furniture'.
Materials & Making
By about 1795 the Ravenhead works at St Helen's, Lancashire, of the British Cast Plate Glass Manufacturers had mastered the technological difficulties of making large convex mirror glass. Convex mirrors had been produced in England previously, but on a much smaller scale for items such as shaving mirrors.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Gilded pine, with convex glass |
Brief description | Mirror, carved gilt frame of circular form, English, ca. 1800 |
Physical description | The convex glass is contained within a reeded ebonized border, and the cavetto moulding of the frame is carved with paterae. On the cresting, an eagle displayed surmounts a vase, springing from large acanthus foliage. At the base is a pendant of acanthus. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label |
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Object history | Historical significance: Similar mirrors are shown in George Smith's 'Household Furniture', 1808. This mirror was purchased from Moss Harris & Sons, 44 New Oxford Street, London WC1 in September 1926 for £65 (See Nominal File MA/1/H857 Harris M. Sons) . No earlier history is recorded. This would have been an early date for the purchase of Regency furniture by the Museum. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Object Type This mirror, with its exuberantly carved pediments of lush acanthus foliage surmounted by an eagle, typifies the bold Regency style. Such mirrors were often hung at the end of a room to reflect the entire of the interior. Time Thomas Sheraton's entry for 'mirrors' in his Cabinet Dictionary (1803) describes only convex mirrors , which indicates their enormous popularity at the beginning of the 19th century. He noted that 'the perspective of the room in which they are suspended presents itself in the surface of the mirror, and produces an agreeable effect'. As a result of this, as well as their 'convenience of holding lights, they are now becoming universally in fashion and are considered both as a useful and ornamental piece of furniture'. Materials & Making By about 1795 the Ravenhead works at St Helen's, Lancashire, of the British Cast Plate Glass Manufacturers had mastered the technological difficulties of making large convex mirror glass. Convex mirrors had been produced in England previously, but on a much smaller scale for items such as shaving mirrors. |
Collection | |
Accession number | W.85-1926 |
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Record created | June 11, 1998 |
Record URL |
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