Mid 19th Century Pen Work Mirror Hand Decorated with Birds and Plants England

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Mid 19th Century Pen Work Mirror Hand Decorated with Birds and Plants England

About the Item

A beautiful and striking piece of pen work craftsmanship, or most probably crafts womanship mirror. Minor signs of ageing and wear in the mirror, with slight foxing as shown in the images, but with nothing the detracts from the beauty of this fine example. This piece evokes the feeling of viewing marquetry. This mirror can either be wall hung via a chain on the verso, or it maybe sighted on top of a sideboard, console or table with the use of a retractable easel back. Penwork, a 20th century term for a lavish, linear decorative technique, was popular in England and Scotland from about 1780 to 1850. Its delightful images, which were applied with fine quill pens, imitate costly Indian ivory-work, rich wood veneers, and lacquered Oriental designs found in great country houses. Where penwork designs come from. Penwork motifs were typically sourced from pattern books, sketches, prints, block-printed textiles, engraved volumes, or popular publications. Though this craft was sometimes commissioned to professional artists, it was deemed as pleasant a feminine pastime as drawing, dancing, and embroidery. So most pieces were worked at home, by ladies of leisure. This may explain their variety, quirkiness, and charm. Many penwork pieces feature fashionable chinoiserie motifs like pagodas, exotic trees, pigtailed men, and women in kimonos with parasols. Scores feature scrolled acanthus leaves and meandering, stylized Indian florals. Other works, inspired by past cultures, depict mythological figures, scenes from the ancient world, or neo-classical architectural elements. Select pieces also immortalize trips to local attractions or foreign shores. Motifs were often picked, then mixed. Chinoiserie images, for example, were sometimes edged with neo-classical medallions or griffins. On occasion, Greek god and goddess images appeared amid lacy Indian florals.

Dimensions:
Height: 30.04 in (76.3 cm)Width: 19.97 in (50.7 cm)Depth: 1.38 in (3.5 cm)
Style:
Victorian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Hardwood
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
1850s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2868323227742