Three Louis XVI 18th Century gilded wood wall mirrors

About the Item

18th century, Louis XVI Wall cartoons (3) Carved and gilded wood, 60 x 40 cm - 35 x 36 cm Light, 30 x 26 cm - 14 x 13 cm The three pieces of furniture in question represent splendid examples of carved and gilded Louis XVI cartouches referable to the 18th century, inside of which mirrors have been inserted, making them de facto fine mirrors. Originally, the cartagloria represented a liturgical object placed on the altar characterized by a lavishly decorated frame, inside which was placed a scroll bearing Latin formulas to be recited during Mass, especially at the moment of the offertory. As this practice was abandoned, the cartaglory began to be reinvented to fulfill other purposes, changing its function: thus it was that often, as in this case, a mirror was inserted in place of the liturgical text, transforming it into a sought-after and sumptuous piece of furniture. The objects presented here, which are to be understood as a group characterized by two smaller side cartagories and a more imposing central one, are characterized by a remarkable opulence, traceable not only in the use of the golden hue, but especially in the highly refined details carved on the surface, which denote great skill and mastery on the part of the craftsman. The frames are then further embellished by the sculptural depiction of plant foliage and flowers, which further contribute to enriching and enlivening their elongated course. At the apex of the frames is then a laurel wreath (in Latin, laurea insignis), enclosed by a central flower, which in Greco-Roman mythology symbolized the wisdom and glory that encircled the heads of the great poets and men of letters; the laurel was also considered a sacred plant in classical culture, associated in particular with the god Apollo, god of the sun, music, poetry, sculpture, and painting. Finally, the golden crown in the shape of a laurel wreath was awarded as an honor of the Republic to the triumphant general and in imperial times girded by the Roman emperor as a symbol of magnificence and pomp. The eighteenth century was a decidedly dynamic century that historically marked the transition to the contemporary age, with the end of the rule of the great monarchies and the rise of the bourgeoisie.The style that came to the fore during this period, which saw the transition from rococo to neoclassicism, was extraordinary in art, architecture, and high craftsmanship: the basis of the Louis XVI style is the search for harmony and proportion, although the use of motifs from classical antiquity does not follow rigid patterns, but is a source of inspiration for free interpretations.

Dimensions:

Height: 23.63 in (60 cm)Width: 15.75 in (40 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 3

Style:

Louis XVI (In the Style Of)

Materials and Techniques:

Mirror,Wood,Gilt

Period:

18th Century

Date of Manufacture:

18th Century