Tortoise Shell Wall Mirrors

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...

Rare 17th Century Octagonal Baroque Inlaid Wood Framed Mirror. Made of deeply patinated walnut and Rosewood with intricate inlaid Ivory and tor...

This monumental 17th-century Flemish mirror is crafted in the grand Baroque style. The magnificent frame is veneered in exquisite tortoiseshell with wave-moulded bands of ebony providing a flawless accent. Tortoiseshell and ebony were both among the most precious and coveted materials of the 17th century, and are used to their utmost effect in this exceptionally rare looking glass. Flemish glassworkers enjoyed a reputation of excellence beginning in the 16th century. These skillful craftsmen are credited with the invention of the tin-mercury method of mirror-making, a process that made polished metal mirrors obsolete. They employed and excelled in a number of decorative techniques in creating the frames, including marquetry, japanning (Dutch and Flemish japanning was of the highest quality, surpassing even the English), and the use of tortoiseshell veneering...

Mirror In Tortoise Shell And Curly Black Wood In The Style Of 17th Century Antwerp Frames, Circa 1930

A fine wall mirror with arched pediment, the frame with reeded border and veneered with vibrant tortoiseshell surrounding the two part bevelled...

Rare, mid-17th century, Tortoishell, small, cushion framed, mirror with the original plate & back, length 14 ½” height 16”, depth 2½” The tortoishell is striking and was highly prize...

A stunning and most decorative Continental early 19th century Baroque st. Tortoiseshell and Ebonized Fruitwood mirror. This wonderful rectangular mirror retains its original beveled ...

A stunning pair of Flemish early 19th century Baroque st. Tortoiseshell mirrors. Each mirror retains its original beveled mirror plates set within a beautiful unique wave like design...

An outstanding pair of Italian 17th century ebonized fruitwood and tortoiseshell small scale Florentine mirrors/picture frames. Each beautiful f...

A striking Continental 18th century Tortoiseshell and giltwood mirror. The original mirror plate is set within a beautiful mottled giltwood bo...

Fantastic Tortoise shell ripple frame mirror. Dutch/Flemish, mid 20th century.

Flemish or Italian with double ripple frame. The back was added at a later date. Circa 1700.

A spectacular and most impressive large scale French mid 19th century Louis XIV st. Boulle mirror. The original beveled mirror plate is within a frame th...

Great pair of Octagonal form mirrors by Anthony Redmile with chrome frames inset with bone & tortoise shell inlay.