New York Neoclassical Mirror, French Restauration Influence and with Provenance

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New York Neoclassical Mirror, French Restauration Influence and with Provenance

About the Item

The style of this impressive pier mirror was influenced by the Neoclassical taste during the Bourbon Restauration (1814-1830) in France. This cultural trend was echoed in the American Neoclassical revival, which was particularly prominent among New York City taste-makers of the 1820's and 1830's, such as Isaac Platt. The symbolic fleur-de-lis corner blocks of this mirror reflect the popular demise of the Napoleonic Empire and the restoration of the French monarchy under Louis XVIII and Charles X, with its hopes of peace and prosperity. The provenance of this mirror is its family descent from the original owners, Hon. William Frederick Havemeyer (1804-1874), three-time mayor of New York City (1845-1846; 1848-1849; 1873-1874), and his wife Sarah Agnes Craig Havemeyer (1807-1894). The Havemeyers used this looking glass in a prominent place in their residence in Manhattan, and it descended by inheritance through a female line of the family to its last owner, who has recently moved to a smaller home. The style of the pier mirror, and the quality of construction, are attributable to cabinet-maker and mirror specialist Isaac Platt (working in NYC between 1815 and 1835), as evidenced by a very similar one illustrated in Plate 65 ("Pier Glass") in the exhibition catalog, "Classical America, 1815-1845", published in hardback by The Newark Museum in 1963. The mirror has two panes of glass and is framed by turned half-columns connected by the attached fleur-de-lis corner decorations. The decorative corner elements are not structural but applied and therefore floating, which was the manner of Platt. The mirror is in authentic antique condition, and shows signs of age as seen in the photographs showing closeups of the glass and the gilding. Overall, the mirror is in strong and sound condition, and the gilding has been professionally conserved and stabilized without alteration. It has an important physical presence, and it has an historic provenance: It was once owned by a wealthy sugar-refiner businessman who retired at age 39, turned to finance and politics as second and third careers, was president of the Bank of North America and the New York Savings Bank and investor in the Long Island Railroad, and--as mayor of New York City--established the modern New York Police Department and helped to end the corruption of Tammany Hall. This is the first time his mirror has been offered for sale to the public.

Dimensions:
Height: 58 in (147.32 cm)Width: 29 in (73.66 cm)Depth: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Mirror,Wood,Gilt,Glazed,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1820-1829
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1825
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. The mirror glass is original with usual signs of aging with minor scratches and discoloring. The gilding has been professionally conserved by the family, while it retains its original finish, and the back is covered in dust-blocking paper.
Seller Location:
Quechee, VT
Reference Number:
Seller: C-KP18-1-XCRL1stDibs: LU928612715541