Early English Giltwood Rococo Mirror C.1760 in the Manner of John and William Li

A Rare and Unusual Pair of 18th Century Spanish Colonial 'Enconchado' Mirrors Veneered in Tortoiseshell and Inlaid With Bone and Mother of Pearl Made in Lima (Peru) or Mexico Circa 1720 Provenance One of the mirrors with a fragmentary label printed with "Bodmer", possibly relating to one of the branches of the Bodmer family in Switzerland, some of whom were renowned collectors of South American art The mirrors of rectangular form with ripple moulded outer borders framing tortoishell veneered inner borders inlaid with fine bone stringing and sinuous floral motifs inlaid in mother of pearl. The sight edges also veneered and inlaid with a repeating geometric motif. The mirrors are notable for the fine quality of the inlay, their unusually large size for this date, in particular the size of the plates themselves (possibly original) and the fact that they are a pair. The term 'Enconchado' comes from Spanish colonial art, particularly associated with Mexico, comprising of oil paintings inlaid with mother of pearl and other iridescent minerals. This form of art is discussed in great detail by Miguel Arisa in his essay Luminosity in Mexican Enconchado Paintings and Conceptions of the Sacred in Visual Culture and Indigenous Agency in the Early Americas, The Early Americas: History and Culture, Volume: 10 Chapter 4 (October 2021). He argues that the development of this style was an attempt to combine pre-Hispanic indigenous South American traditions regarding the sacred properties of "shiny objects" and "Baroque concepts of the miraculous", the sparkling inlay adding to the power of the European religious imagery. Mirrors such as the present pair are likewise cross-cultural objects, fusing European form and aesthetic concerns with indigenous craftsmanship to create objects of great prestige and decorative appeal. The ripple mouldings are clearly the result of a 17th century Dutch...

A highly Important, Early Regency period mahogany, ebonised and parcel-gilt partners writing table on monopodia legs of exceptional quality and design, in the manner of George Smith, stamped Chas Norman, whom was associated with the work of Gillows. Labelled ‘Morning Room’. English, Regency period, circa 1810. Rarely seen, the crescent shaped ended rectangular top, beautifully lined with the original gilt tooled leather writing surface, enclosed by a mahogany cross-banded border and reeded edge. The frieze, containing four finely chosen fiddle-back mahogany drawers, two pairs to opposing sides, each retaining the original gadrooned carved ebonised knob handles. The perimeters having a finely ebonised cockbead, whilst the drawer liners being executed in mahogany retain the original recessed brass locks, which look to have never been removed. Flanking the drawers are bead-moulded ebonised panels which conform to either end above a reeded mould. Raised on four boldly designed and imposing, crisply carved, ebonised and parcel-gilt leopard monopodia supports, of wonderful original waxed condition. The Egyptian leopards mask above a bold breast decorated with carved gilt anthemion and guilloche motifs, finishing on a finely detailed carved leg and paw foot. The condition is excellent, retaining the original hand-dyed and gilt tooled waxed leather writing surface along with original locks, handles and ebonising with gilt-work to the legs. Commissioned for what presumes to be a private collection and due to its condition, being obvious to see, this writing table has been home to an important household. Labelled ‘Morning Library’ to the underside, whilst in this exemplary condition strongly suggests this striking piece of Regency furniture has furnished the library of the said house for the majority of its life. As can be noted, this is an extremely rare, elegant, early Regency writing table of exceptional colour, which corresponds with designs of the celebrated furniture maker and designer George Smith, workmanship of Gillows, being stamped to the underside Chas Norman four times. George Smith (1756 - 1826) was one of the most influential furniture designers of the English Regency Period (1811-1830). Smith, who began his pattern-book in 1804, wrote of ‘the great taste and elegance’ of this design. In 1808 he published his influential and definitive text on Regency interior Design titled ‘ A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration’ and classed himself as ‘Upholder Extraordinary to His Royal Excellency the Prince of Wales’…The Prince Regent. Smith was inspired in his designs from his earlier career as an Egyptologist, producing drawings incorporating motifs of Leopards heads and paws, Lions, sphinx’s, anthemia, and griffons amongst others. Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) published ‘Etchings, Representing the Best Examples of Ancient Ornamental Architecture; Drawn from the Originals in Rome, and Other Parts of Italy During the Years 1794, 1795, and 1796’, in which he illustrated an antique tripod table...

An Unusual and Rare Mid 20th Century Walnut Sideboard / Enfilade with pyramid doors and drawers. Probably USA - Circa 1960 Of rectangular form with fo...

An Elegant William IV Birdseye Maple and Carver Giltwood Library / Centre or Sofa Table English Circa 1830 This distinctive library or centre table of birdseye maple and carved g...

A very decorative and impressive pair of Italian Venetian giltwood wall sconces late 18th Century. Italian circa 1780. The two leaf carved up-scrolled candlebranches issuing fr...

Mid 18th Century Italian Rococo Armchair in Walnut with Extravagantly Carved Head Rail Italian Circa 1760 This beautiful armchair is executed in walnut and, in its basic form, is h...

With perfectly burnished surface with wonderful gilt accents with broken arch pediment with central cartouche over a mirror plate set in a conforming frame with bead and reel and aca...

Rare pair of 19th century pier giltwood mirrors in the rococo manner. An exceptional pair of pier mirrors, the shaped mirror plate is set within a...

Rococo antique gold leaf mirror attributed to La Barge Italy.

With an elaborately caved gold leaf framed with free scrolling lappet branches in the rococo style, the base with inverted cabriole legs and a central shell and leaf cartouche, the p...

This piece is carved in the Venetian rococo taste with curved and Scrolling frames with foliate detail. It has double framing with inset Mirror that has hand etching...

Very fine George I carved and gilt mirror, circa 1720, in the manner of John Belchier having an ostrich feather plume over tasseled central lambrequin, d...