Friday, August 8, 2014

Before 1750

France

France
France

My own current and unaccountable preoccupation with giltwood furniture is easiest of all to indulge when looking at mirrors, simply because they have survived in such abundant numbers and remain in constant rotation at auction houses (the sources for most of these pictures).

The fashion for handmade fanciful giltwood mirrors started in Europe in the early 16th century when the modern manufacture of mirror-surfaces (using glass and mercury) was pioneered by the Venetians. Those seen here came from all across Europe, but all were created before 1750.

Germany

Italy

Italy

Italy (Venice)

Italy

Italy (Venice)

Germany

Italy

Italy

England

England

Germany