George I Giltwood Pier Mirror, in the Manner of John Belchier

The flourishing surmount centred upon the flowers of the Prince of Wales and flanked by a pair of eagles and floral drapery. The bevelled, split, plates contained within a scrolled and punched border, with removable candle arms projecting from the base, either side of scallop shells. English, c.1725

Provenance:

Featured in Connoisseur, November 1963, the mirror sold at Christie’s on the 18th of July 1963, lot 96, described as ‘A QUEEN ANNE GILT GESSO UPRIGHT MIRROR, with rectangular and arched bevelled plates in moulded frame with gadrooned borders, the shaped arched cresting with Prince of Wales’ plumes, masks and foliage in relief, the base similarly decorated with a shell medallion, strapwork and foliage on a pounced ground.’ From the collection of a “lady of title” the mirror was bought by Pelham Galleries.

The mirror later featured in Hinckley’s ‘Queen Anne & Georgian Looking Glasses: Old English and Early American,’ published in 1987 (image included below for reference). By this time, decorative paterae had been added to the the plates whereupon candle arms would likely have been placed originally. The image was credited to Needham’s Antiques, and it is possible that they added these. Needham’s were highly regarded for much of the 20th century, and their ownership of this mirror emphasises its outstanding quality.

A similar mirror is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, attributed to John Belchier and itself compared to the famous Erdigg mirrors Belchier was commissioned to make by John Meller, dated to 1723; see last image for reference.

Height: 158cm high (62 1/4″)                                                                                      Width: 89cm wide (35″)                                                                                                 Depth: 18cm (7″)