Object Description
This is an impressive large pair of antique George III Neo-classical Robert Adam Revival giltwood mirrors, Circa 1880 in date.
This superb pair of carved giltwood mirrors feature oval flower-head paterae crests complimented with decorative side cresting formed of classical urns.
Each mirror having a rectangular plate with three panel borders divided by rows of ribbons that drape gracefully down, framed either side by classical columns.
A Robert Adam style mirror is a distinctively elegant type of Neoclassical mirror characterized by lightness of form, strict symmetry, and delicate decorations inspired by ancient Roman and Greek architecture. Developed in the late 18th century by the famous Scottish architect and designer Robert Adam, these mirrors moved away from heavy, chunky Baroque and Rococo designs, introducing a much more refined, airy, and “Adamesque” aesthetic.
This giltwood pair of mirrors are stunning items that will enhance the look of any room.
Condition:
In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 190 cm x Width 76 cm x Depth 10 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 6 foot, 3 inches x Width 2 foot, 6 inches x Depth 4 inches
Robert Adam (1728–1792)
was the pre-eminent British architect and interior designer of the 18th century. He is famous for pioneering the “Adam Style”, a highly influential neoclassical design that integrated architecture, furniture, and interior decor into unified, harmonious spaces inspired by ancient Rome and Greece.
Rather than just designing the exterior, Adam and his brother James meticulously designed every detail of a home’s interior—from the plasterwork ceilings and wall colors to the custom-made carpets, doorknobs, and furniture.
He moved away from the heavy Palladian style, opting for lighter, airier, and more elegant spaces featuring pale color palettes, delicate stucco work, and motifs like urns, vines, and sphinxes He created dynamic spatial experiences by varying room shapes (like combining circular and rectangular spaces) and contrasting rising and falling architectural forms.
Robert Adam was commissioned by British royalty and nobility to design or remodel some of the country’s most celebrated townhomes, estates, and public buildings.
Mirrors
are commonly used for personal grooming or admiring oneself (in which case the archaic term looking-glass is sometimes still used), decoration, and architecture.
The earliest manufactured mirrors were pieces of polished stone such as obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass. In classical antiquity, mirrors were made of solid metal (bronze, later silver) and were too expensive for widespread use by common people; they were also prone to corrosion. Due to the low reflectivity of polished metal, these mirrors also gave a darker image than modern ones, making them unsuitable for indoor use with the artificial lighting of the time.
The method of making mirrors out of plate glass was invented by 16th-century Venetian glassmakers on the island of Murano, who covered the back of the glass with mercury, obtaining near-perfect and undistorted reflection. For over one hundred years, Venetian mirrors installed in richly decorated frames served as luxury decorations for palaces throughout Europe, but the secret of the mercury process eventually arrived in London and Paris during the 17th century, due to industrial espionage. French workshops succeeded in large scale industrialization of the process, eventually making mirrors affordable to the masses.
Our reference: A5137