Description

A finely proportioned and richly ornamented neoclassical overmantel mirror, carved in giltwood and retaining a warm, softly aged gilded surface with areas of original bole and intentional patina. The rectangular frame is surmounted by a deep projecting cornice with a repeating band of carved roundels, above a frieze composed of two finely tooled lattice panels flanking a central anthemion shell cartouche with scrolling acanthus terminals.
The mirror plate is divided into three vertical sections, emphasising architectural balance and scale, and framed by slender moulded surrounds. The uprights are articulated as fluted pilasters, each topped with carved classical bust masks beneath paterae blocks, lending a distinctly archaeological neoclassical character. The lower sections terminate in stepped plinths with carved paw-foot details.
The carving throughout is crisp and confident, suggesting workshop production of high quality, with motifs drawn from Greco-Roman decorative vocabulary typical of the Regency taste for classical revival. The gilded surface shows attractive wear consistent with age, enhancing depth and visual warmth without detracting from the legibility of detail.