Object Description
A Stunning Quality And Extremely Rare Late 18th Century Harewood Dressing Table Mirror, Having Square Upright Supports To Original Swing Mirror Plate, Over Well Figured Box Base, With Attractive Polychrome Painted Decoration, Enclosing Interior Fitted With Lidded Compartments And One Long Drawer To Side.
This is a rather beautiful take on the typical dressing table mirror of which you see many of varying shapes, sizes, qualities, timbers and periods. We haven’t actually ever found one quite like this however and feel sure it must have been specifically commissioned for somebody, or somewhere very special.
Unusually it is constructed from Harewood, a timber not used particularly often due to the great expense involved in the process fo making it. Of course, Harewood is not a wood itself, but instead it is a stained Sycamore, usually with a greenish hue originally, which more often than not has now worn away. It is a great sign of quality in an item as it took great skill and expense to initially treat, prepare and work. It can now be relatively easily identified by the distinctive flecked/fiddleback appearance of the grain and of course whatever remains of the greenish/grey initial appearance.
The mirror also has some rather lovely painted decoration, which has been extremely well carried out and remains in reasonable condition. This really adds to the overall elegant feel of the piece.
It is also worth noting that this dressing table mirror is extremely functional, very much fit for its original purpose sat on top of a dressing table, or chest of drawers. That said if one doesn’t wish to put it to use then it is still just an extremely attractive piece of furniture to have around the house.
As with all items which we offer for sale the mirror has been inspected by our highly skilled, trained traditional antique furniture restorers and received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale to ensure it is ready for immediate placement within the home.
Circa 1785.
Height 25.25in.
Width 15.5in.
Depth 10in.