Empire Table Mirrors

Early 19th century bronze crystal Zephyr table mirror, attr. L'Escalier de Cristal On a flat, round base made of crystal glass with cut and polished decoration and bronze beaded rim stands a putto figure with butterfly wings depicting Zephyr , the personification of the West wind made of black patinated bronze; above his head Zephyr is holding the bronze mount for the adjustable mirror in the form of a twisted cord. Round adjustable mirror with neoclassical lanzetto leaf and pearl rim showing very fine chasing as well as excellent gilding with matte and polished parts, the back plate made of gilt bronze. The combination of the materials bronze and crystal glass, the excellent craftsmanship as well as the figure of the Zephyr boy, which can be found on other mirrors made by the French manufacturer L'Escalier de Cristal suggest this mirror to be a product of this manufacturer. The luxury store of the Maison a L'Escalier de crystal was stablished in 1802 by Mme. Désarnaud, it supplied clocks, lamps and other objects d'art to the ruling families of Europe. The business was located in the Palais Royale, a centre of excellence for the high quality jewelers, silversmiths and manufacturers of Objets de Vertu, for which Paris was renowned. The firm specialized in objects of great technical and aesthetic innovation, many composed entirely of crystal and gilt bronze. For the realization of its models, Escalier De crystal most often called upon Parisian artists specializing in a specific technical field. The individual components were then assembled to the firm's own designs - much in the tradition of the 18th-century marchands-mercier, from whom they inherited their specialist profession. The firm exhibited to great acclaim at the 1819 Exposition des produits de l’industrie an outstanding gilt bronze-mounted crystal dressing table (exhibited in the Musee de Louvre...

Early 19th century Empire Female Bacchantes caryatids gilt bronze table mirror. A rare and beautiful Empire gilt-bronze table mirror, a so-...