Glorious Reflections-Antique Mirrors from Our Current Collection

Continuing our series of blog posts on notable items of stock, we would like to highlight the range of antique mirrors in our collection. These pieces fall in to several categories-there are commemorative pieces and there are decorative pieces and then they can also be sub-divided in to wall hanging pieces and easel mirrors.

Commemorative Mirrors

As regular visitors to our site or stands at fairs will know, we specialise in items connected to royalty, the army and navy and some of the mirrors in our stock are also related to these themes. We begin with a silver toilet mirror, designed for use on a dressing table and therefore an easel mirror rather than a wall mounted piece.

A large and ornate silver table mirror – A wedding gift to Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg, 1885

This piece is of particularly large size and beautifully made. It is therefore perhaps of no surprise to find that it carries an inscription demonstrating that it was presented to Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest child, on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Henry of Battenberg, by the people of Cowes on the Isle of Wight where the couple lived with the Princess’ mother. The mirror was made by the important silversmith Benzie of Cowes, particularly famous for its yachting-related items, and a video about this piece can be viewed on our Youtube channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YKkA5I_vsj8?feature=share

The next two mirrors we would like to feature are related to Admiral Nelson, both having been made in the wake of his death as commemorative pieces for the legions of British families keen to commemorate the hero of the seas in their own homes

An unusual Nelson commemorative mirror c1815

A large Nelson commemorative armorial pier glass

Although similar in overall theme and purpose, the choice of decoration on the two mirrors is very different. 

The first mirror features two large verre eglomise, or reverse painted glass, panels. The larger of these panels, situated near the top of the mirror frame, depicts a naval engagement of some sort, quite probably the Battle of the Nile. The lower panel on the piece features Nelson’s arms. Although Nelson memorial mirrors survive in some numbers, few are as sophisticated in their decoration as this example which would have been made for an important house given the sheer scale of the piece as well. A truly lovely mirror.

The second mirror features Nelson’s coat of arms and a bronzed and gilt decorative scheme that was extremely popular during the regency period. Although Nelson himself owned several mirrors with his coat of arms on them, the dark background used here suggests that this mirror was made at a time of national mourning and was not made for the Admiral’s own use.

A third commemorative Nelson mirror is distinguished by the fact that it is of overmantel form and therefore of landscape orientation.

A George III Nelson Commemorative over-mantle Mirror

This fine piece uses the bronze and gilt decorative scheme once again and features Nelson’s arms, flanked by panels of classical ornament. A highly attractive and useful piece, ideal for the lover of naval history.

Next we highlight a remarkable pair of mirrors which also have a naval theme, having been made for the Royal Naval Club in Portsmouth and supplied to their premises by G. Wendover and Co. of Hanover Street in the same city. 

A Fine Pair of Giltwood Overmantel Mirrors with the Emblems of the Royal Naval Club, Portsmouth, Supplied by G. Wendover and Co. in 1869

It was our research in the newspaper archives that uncovered evidence of Wendover having been used for this important commission. An article in The Broad Arrow, dated the 30th of January 1869, mentions the successful opening of the club. It states that ‘the building has been furnished by Messrs Wendover, of Hanover Street, and the whole of the details have been carried out in a manner which reflects credit on all who have taken part in them’. 

These mirrors are both of overmantel form and pairs of overmantels are very rare indeed. Coupled with their fine maritime detailing, and their impressive provenance, this makes them very desirable pieces.

Next we would like to draw the attention of our readers to a pair of Regency period convex mirrors, again with a naval connection.

Admiral Hamond’s Mirrors from HMS Blanche as The Battle of Copenhagen, 1801

These fascinating pieces, made c.1800, were, according to labels on the back, part of the decoration of a cabin during the Battle of Copenhagen:

‘These Glasses hung in the Captain’s Cabin of HMS Blanche (36 guns) Captn. Graham E. Hamond, during the Action of the 2nd April 1801, against the Great Crown Battery at Copenhagen fought by Vice Admiral Lord Nelson.’ 

They were later exhibited as part of the Voyage of Life Exhibition, April/May 1982. at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull. 

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Graham Eden Hamond (1779- 1862) saw action as a junior officer at the Battle of the ‘Glorious First of June’ and then at the Battle of Toulon. He commanded the fifth-rate Blanche at the Battle of Copenhagen on the northern part of the line facing the Tre Kronor Battery, positioned between Alcmene and Amazon (Captain Edward Riou who was killed in the action). Obscured by smoke they missed Nelson’s celebrated “Blind Eye” signal to pursue the action and were the only part of the fleet to obey Admiral Sir Hyde Parker’s order to retreat. After a period of leave from the Navy, Hamond became commanding officer of the third- rate Wellesley which conveyed the diplomat Lord Stuart de Rothesay to Brazil to negotiate a commercial treaty with the Emperor Pedro I. Hamond’s final position was Commander-in-Chief, South American Station. 

Straddling the line between commemorative pieces and pure decoration are a pair of mirrors of Majorcan origin, made in the Carlos IV period c. 1790.

A pair of Majorcan Carlos IV mirrors

Rather than maritime imagery, these mirrors employ martial decoration, centring on a trophy of arms complete with portrait medallions of a conquistador in armour, perhaps meant to represent Hernan Cortes. There is another, smaller, trophy of arms to the base of each frame and the other decoration is of more standard neoclassical design, seen throughout Europe and America in this period. Of large scale and clearly designed for an important patron, these mirrors have painted and parcel gilt frames, making them particularly attractive and a little less formal than might be expected from pieces of this sort. They are highly unusual and Majorcan pieces are rarely found in England. We are delighted to be able to offer them to our clients.

Non-Commemorative Pieces

Next we have an extraordinary pair of mirrors incorporating reverse painted glass panels in the rococo and chinoiserie style, c.1840 by George Godley of Winchester.

Victorian giltwood English Chinese Chippendale style period mirrors

These remarkable pieces are two of a very small number of pieces known to survive with Godley’s label on them. Despite our best efforts it has been impossible at this stage to find out much about Godley’s business, other than the fact that, according to the label, he was an ‘Ecclesiastical and architectural carver and gilder’ and was based ‘By ye bridge, Winchester’. Given his location and trade, it seems highly likely that he was involved in work at Winchester cathedral at some stage but unfortunately this has not been possible to prove. What is beyond doubt is the masterful carving on display here, the rococo-type carving being interpreted in a way that is entirely new and not a slavish reproduction of an 18th century form. These mirrors draw inspiration from the work that came before them but are entirely novel in design and, as such, much more interesting. Highly recommended.

A late 18th century mirror combining rococo stylings with some of the grace of the Adam period is next.

A Georgian Chippendale period gilt-wood mirror

This fine piece is of good size and attractively gilded the carving being of excellent quality. This design is refined and elegant and suitable for bedrooms and public rooms alike. A really lovely example.

Of even earlier date is this fine George I period gesso mirror, c.1720.

An attractive late George I giltwood mirror

Mirrors of this sort are perennially popular and this example is well proportioned and highly attractive, with a later plate. 

Palladian furniture of the early George II period is particularly desirable at the moment and so are 19th century versions of the fine designs of the period. We have an excellent double plate pier mirror based on a Palladian period design, reminiscent of mirrors designed by the likes of Flitcroft and William Kent, in our current collection.

Victorian giltwood mirror after a design by William Kent

Of large and important size, this imposing and beautiful piece will enhance any interior significantly.

A fine regency overmantel mirror will enhance any home or collection and we have just the piece.

A Regency Giltwood Overmantle Mirror with interesting provenance

This mirror has a particularly interesting recent history, having been owned by the musician Georgie Fame. Georgie Fame (born Clive Powell 26th June, 1943, Leigh, Lancashire) is a British rhythm and blues artist, jazz singer and keyboard player. The one-time rock and roll tour musician, who had a string of 1960’s hits, is still a popular performer. His career began at Butlins Holiday Camp, Pwllheli and his first band was called the Dominoes. Later, working in Soho with Cat Stevens and on the Motown review tour with the Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, he was heavily influenced by American Jazz and blues music. Ronan O’Rahilly, Fame’s manager at the time, claims that he started the offshore pirate radio station, Radio Caroline in 1964, to promote Fame’s records which he could not get played on English radio. Fame has collaborated with some of the most successful performers in the world of popular music, most recently Van Morrison, Count Basie, Eric Clapton and as a founding member of Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. Last year he performed a benefit concert at the Twickenham Stadium with his two sons on guitar and drums. 

This mirror has Egyptian mask decoration, in a bronzed finish, and retains all of its original mirror plates which is a rarity in itself. A very fine example.

Of Napoleon III period and French origin, we have a fine pair of painted mirrors with decoration relating to the arts and, in particular, music.

Napoleon III French oval mirrors

The trophies of musical instruments serving as crestings on these mirrors are beautifully carved and of great decorative interest. The painted and parcel gilt finish give these mirrors a mesmerising presence and they are perfect for the lover of all things beautiful, particularly someone with an interest in music. These mirrors are large and have an arresting presence and are sure to be talking points in any room.

The final two pieces in our round-up are both easel mirrors for the dressing table or a side table in a drawing room. The first example has a walnut frame with micro mosaic decoration and was made in Italy c.1900.

A delicate walnut easel dressing table mirror

The profoundly asymmetrical form of this piece is unusual for the period and reflects the influence of the 18th century rococo period. The glass mosaic decoration takes for its subject a scene in Venice and accompanying floral decoration so it is likely that the piece was made on the island. A very striking and unusual example, a video of this piece can be seen on our Youtube channel here : https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NszLsqTwHv4

We conclude with another easel mirror, this one made in England in the late Edwardian or early Art Deco period c.1910-20. The wooden frame is veneered entirely in tortoiseshell of wonderful colour and figure and then mounted with unmarked silver mounts in the form of anthemions and scrollwork. This is a most attractive piece, ideal for the dressing table of a sophisticated collector and connoisseur.

We hope that these mirrors will inspire you to consider adding an antique piece to your collection and we would be delighted to answer any questions you may have about any of these pieces. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.