Object Description
A Pair of George III Style Giltwood Mirrors
The pair of Chinese Chippendale style frames carved from giltwood and housing original rectangular mirrored plates, surmounted by carved mythological Ho-Ho birds with outstretched wings perched on rocky outcrops, with carved C-scrolls, icicles and stylised acanthus leaves.
English, circa 1860
The Ho Ho bird, a Japanese mythical counterpart to the phoenix, became a favoured motif in Asian decorative arts before entering 18th-century European design, where its composite form symbolised longevity, fidelity, and wisdom. In England, it appears most frequently atop Georgian fret mirrors from around 1760, where a gilt Ho Ho bird introduces a lively, exotic flourish.