Large Carved And Gilded Wooden Mirror With Parecloses – Regency Period, France.

This sumptuous Regency period mirror is distinguished by its sculpted decoration of rare virtuosity, where the richness of the composition is coupled with remarkably fine repair work. Made of finely carved wood then gilded with leaf, it has a fretwork frame decorated with screwed parecloses in the tradition of grand ceremonial mirrors from the first third of the 18th century. The spectacular pediment, entirely openworked on a mirror background, develops a central trophy composed of lictor's fasces tied with ribbons, an allegory inherited from Roman Antiquity symbolizing authority and justice. This group is framed by fan-shaped palm leaves and surmounted by a helmet with a floral crest placed on flags, a martial motif borrowed from classical vocabulary. The lateral decoration consists of animated foliage dressed in ribboned rushes, rosettes, volutes, C-shaped shapes with fluted shells and flowerlets sculpted in relief. The lower part features a delicately carved openwork flower basket, an emblem of prosperity widely used in the decorative arts of this period. The quality of execution of the sculptures, the liveliness of the lines, the precision of the details – down to the grid of the floral pastilles and the braiding of the bundles – testify to a carpentry work of the highest order, probably from a Parisian workshop. The gilding is original with a beautiful shine, a beautiful old patina revealing in places the red plate bowl. The period mercury glass has a very poetic oxidized tin, in perfect harmony with the whole. The back is made of old assembled boards affixed to a pegged mortise and tenon frame. Finally, a rare occurrence, the mirror retains its original hanging system: two wrought iron plates fixed by large period screws, the threads of which have been filed down - a precious testimony to the mounting technique at the beginning of the 18th century. Dimensions: 128 cm high x 82 cm wide Condition: well-preserved old gilding with wear from use, intact sculptures with some very slight losses, original glass with small losses at the level of certain parecloses, authentic mounting.