Early 19th Century Giltwood Fire Screen, Regency

A truly fabulous, important, rare and grand proportioned Regency giltwood convex mirror. The substantial frame carved with overlapping laurel leaves and berries, supporting to boldly carved acanthus candelabra with original cut-glass drip pans and gilt bronze nozzles. The gilding has aged to a deep rich colour. This fabulous and incredibly grand masterpiece retains its original convex mirror plate. One of the finest period convex mirrors ever made. The creation of convex mirrors became possible with the development of glass blowing. When the glassblower created a small glass bulb, they were filled with a metallic mixture of lead and tin while still hot. Once cooled, the bulbs were cut into smaller pieces and could be used as hand an pocket mirrors. They were used as fashionable pieces of jewelry and were often encased with gold, silver, ivory and tortoiseshell. The Empire circular convex mirror was introduced from France, where they had been made as early as 1756. This style of mirror became so popular under the heading ‘Mirrors’, in Sheraton’s 'Cabinet Dictionary' (1803), that they are the only style mentioned. Convex mirrors were said to “strengthen the colour and take off the coarseness of objects by contracting them”. Convex mirrors produced on a larger scale were both practical and intriguing. While they distort the image that they reflect, they also magnify light...

A fine pair of early North Italian 19th-century water gilt monopodia console tables, richly carved with strong vivid ornament of bold anthemions, sub...

A rare early 19th century Regency period English chandelier, the body of Wedgwood jasperware mounted with elaborate gilt ormolu metal work issuing five electrified candle arms and hu...

Important Palatial & Rare 19th Century Pietra Dura Giltwood Centre Table. This magnificent rectangular table incorporates an exquisitely inlaid Florentine Pietra Dura work of art. The truly incredibly and colourful hardstone specimens have been meticulously chosen & inlaid to form the most gorgeous floral display. It is amongst the finest of its type. This masterpiece is displayed on its original carved work of sculptural art, a baluster stem with acanthus leaves and raised on four acanthus leaf scrolled feet, the gilding, burnished in parts to perfection and highlighting a palatial majesty. The art of creating images by cutting hardstones and fitting them into a jigsaw of shapes, flowered under the Florentine Medici and is known as Pietra Dura. The technique of Pietra Dura is highly prized and widely used and can be found in settings ranging from antique jewellery boxes to the walls of the Taj Mahal. The development of the technique, often called ‘painting in stone’ was one of the many achievements of the Florentine Renaissance. Like many other forms of antique decorative art...

A fabulous and powerful mid-19th century quarter-sawn oak centre table, now with custom made Corian extending leaves supported on the original slide-out bearers. The top supported on...

Germany, circa 1825. A Berlin mahogany display cabinet having a stepped pediment inlaid with boxwood stringing above partially glazed doors divided...

An exceptionally fine quality pair of regency rosewood fire screens, of very unusual design, having exceptional carved decoration to frames, enclo...

Gorgeous 19th century Louis XV Regency gilded screen and fire screen with Tapestries. The Rococo style tapestries are in pristine condition with very min...

Pair of Early 19th Century English Regency Black Lacquered Pole Screens with Silk Embroidered Textiles

19th century gilt needlework fire screen, the crest having gilt metal urn and flame with trailing arabesques, the frieze with star appliques, re...

19th century carved needlework fire screen, the frame made from solid rosewood with a needlepoint and petit point panel.

19th century hand painted fire screen. Oil paint on board. Flowers and lakescape on each side.