Large Mirror With Chinoiserie Decor

An important rectangular Piedmontese mirror, framed by a rich carved decoration in gilded wood. The frame is adorned with foliage, flowers and scrolls. The openwork pediment has a refined Chinese-style decoration, with a stylized pagoda-type structure integrated into the rocaille profusion. At the lower spandrels, the sculpted scrolls form scrolled consoles supporting the whole. The original mercury glass is pitted over the entire surface, attesting to its antiquity and reinforcing its authentic character. Such mirrors were ordered for the noble palazzi of Turin and Piedmont, often arranged in pairs or symmetrically in the state rooms. Their decorative function was to amplify the space and reflect the richness of the interior decor.