“sun” Mirror In Gilded Wood Circa 1950

Sunburst Mirror, circa 1950s


A round “sunburst” wall mirror from the mid-20^th century (circa 1950s-60s). It features a central looking glass encircled by multiple small mirrored ornaments arranged as radiating sun rays. The frame is hand-carved wood, fully gilded with gold leaf, showcasing a warm original patina. This emblematic design reflects the post-war taste for striking sun-themed décor, highly fashionable during the mid-century period.

Hand-carved wooden frame with bold sunray motifs emanating from the central mirror. The wood surface is gilded with genuine gold leaf over a traditional red bole ground, giving the piece its rich golden luster. The small mirrors set into the frame are oxidized on their surface – a sign of vintage silvering and ageproantic.com. The mirror’s construction is traditional and solid, likely using wooden joinery or glue, indicative of quality craftsmanship.

Finely carved hardwood with gold-leaf gildingproantic.com. Central mirror in silvered glass (flat mirror plate, possibly very slightly convex in the “witch’s eye” tradition). The decorative small mirror pieces around the perimeter are also silvered glass, inset into the wooden frame (a pareclose style arrangement). The backing is typically a wooden panel securing the glass, with a metal hook or wire for wall hanging.

Mid-Century Modern / Hollywood Regency – This mirror embodies the elegant sunburst style popular in the 1950s-60s, blending classical Louis XIV “Sun King” inspiration with modern design. Sunburst mirrors of this era became iconic accents in Hollywood Regency interiors, adding glamour and brightness to a roomtheindigolattice.wordpress.com. The piece is very likely of French origin (crafted in a Parisian workshop or in the South of France), and it aligns with creations by prominent mid-century decorators. Notably, Maison Jansen in Paris produced sunburst mirrors with mirrored segments in the 1950saverydash.com, and the Vallauris artisans on the Riviera made many sunburst mirrors in gilt metal. With its ring of small mirrors, our example stands out for its refinement and distinctly French vintage character.

Excellent original condition. The gold-leaf gilding is well-preserved with a warm, even patina; minor wear on the raised edges commensurate with age, which enhances its vintage charm. The central mirror is intact and clear; the small mirrored insets show slight foxing and silvering oxidation, which do not detract from the piece (the mild aging to the glass adds desirable character). The structure is sound with no significant losses to the carving. The backside is in good order and the mirror is ready to hang.

Total diameter: 65 cm (25.6″)