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Lot Essay
This rare Queen Anne tripartite overmantel mirror, with its elaborately engraved cresting and gilt painted clasps used to simulate gilt-bronze, is an accomplished example of early 18th century English glassmaking. It is designed in the French/Antique fashion popularised by the engraved Oeuvres of William III's Paris-trained architect Daniel Marot (d.1752). A related overmantel with blue glass borders was introduced, probably by Gerrit Jensen, for the King's Apartments at Hampton Court Palace circa 1700. Another, lacking the shaped cresting plates, is illustrated in Geoffrey Wills, English Looking-glasses, London, 1965, p. 70, fig. 14.
Advances in glass manufacture towards the end of the 17th and early 18th century meant it was possible to produce larger sheets of plate and overmantel mirrors were able to attain considerable size, sometimes occupying the whole area between the chimneypiece and cornice. The maker of the present mirror demonstrates a range of techniques, including the complex arrangement of bevelled glass plates and beautiful engraved decoration. The ripple moulded border is also a distinctive feature and a pier glass with a similar border is at Syon House in the collection of the Dukes of Northumberland.
A closely related though slightly smaller mirror was sold by Michael Lipitch, Sotheby's, London, 22 May 1998, lot 36 (£54,300 including premium). Another of slightly simpler form was sold Sotheby’s London, Wednesday 29 June 2005, lot 29 (£43,200 with premium). A further example within a narrow giltwood outer border and bearing the signature of William German (active 1669 - 95), was sold Christie's, London, The Barratt Collection - From Crowe Hall, Bath, 16 December 2010, lot 242 (£34,850 including premium).
Advances in glass manufacture towards the end of the 17th and early 18th century meant it was possible to produce larger sheets of plate and overmantel mirrors were able to attain considerable size, sometimes occupying the whole area between the chimneypiece and cornice. The maker of the present mirror demonstrates a range of techniques, including the complex arrangement of bevelled glass plates and beautiful engraved decoration. The ripple moulded border is also a distinctive feature and a pier glass with a similar border is at Syon House in the collection of the Dukes of Northumberland.
A closely related though slightly smaller mirror was sold by Michael Lipitch, Sotheby's, London, 22 May 1998, lot 36 (£54,300 including premium). Another of slightly simpler form was sold Sotheby’s London, Wednesday 29 June 2005, lot 29 (£43,200 with premium). A further example within a narrow giltwood outer border and bearing the signature of William German (active 1669 - 95), was sold Christie's, London, The Barratt Collection - From Crowe Hall, Bath, 16 December 2010, lot 242 (£34,850 including premium).