Pair Of Carved And Gilded Wooden Wall Sconces—with Mercury Mirror And églomisé Glass—18th Century

Period: 18th century
Origin: probably Italy
Materials: carved and gilded wood, mercury mirror, eglomized glass
Style: Late Baroque / Italian Rocaille

A superb pair of 18th-century carved and gilded wooden mirror sconces, likely of Italian origin, featuring remarkable Rocaille ornamentation.

With their undulating, scalloped shapes, the frames are richly carved with shells, foliage, flowers, and volutes, surmounted by an elegant openwork pediment and finished at the bottom with a prominent foliage motif.

The center of each wall sconce consists of an antique mercury mirror with an undulating shape, whose surface displays the irregularities and nuances characteristic of antique mirrors. The mirror background is enlivened by delicate figures made of églomisé glass, depicting female figures in 18th-century costume.

The églomé glass technique—which involves applying and fixing decorative motifs in gold or paint to the back of the glass—provides a striking contrast here with the depth and nuances of the antique mercury mirror.

The combination of gilded wood carving, the antique mirror, and églomisé glass lends this pair a great decorative richness. The composition and ornamental vocabulary evoke the refined works of 18th-century Italy, particularly in the Baroque and Rococo styles.

A particularly original pair, serving as both a work of art and a decorative element, reflecting the 18th-century taste for the interplay of light, materials, and reflections

Condition: 

Good overall condition for pieces of this period. Original gilding showing signs of wear, touch-ups, and variations in tone. Antique mercury mirrors with their characteristic irregularities, small pitting, and discoloration. Eglomized glass preserved with some possible wear. A few small chips or ancient imperfections in the carved decoration.