Sourced in France
This extraordinary 18th-century French marriage mirror is a rare surviving example of a tradition once reserved for the most cherished unions. With its original mercury glass and deeply carved giltwood crest, it embodies the poetic ornamentation of the Louis XVI period—where nature, sentiment, and classical form met in quiet grandeur.
At the crown, a pair of doves nestles within a laurel wreath—symbols of fidelity, peace, and enduring love. Mirrors of this kind were often given as wedding gifts, meant to reflect not only the couple’s likeness but the life they were building together. The craftsmanship is both refined and expressive: beaded molding and gently time-softened gilding.
The mirror retains its original glass, with the prized character of old mercury silvering—feathered, slightly mottled, and deeply luminous. The crest sustained minor damage during transit from France but has been sensitively restored.
17ʺ × 3ʺ × 24ʺ
Sourced in France
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