Exceptional Italian Baroque mirror with carved mascaron and original gilded wood, dating from ca. 1720–1750
$1,250.00
Exceptional Italian Baroque mirror, ca. 1720–1750.
Hand-carved in wood, gessoed, and water-gilded over a red bole, this 18th-century Italian mirror retains its original mercury glass and unrestored gilding, with wear consistent with its age. A sculptural frame with rocaille scrolls, acanthus leaves, and a male mascaron typical of northern Italy.
Good condition, unrestored, with original patina and stable structure.
Negotiable starting price available upon request.
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This Italian Baroque mirror is a genuine work from the early Settecento, created between ca. 1720 and 1750 in northern Italy, most likely in a Genoese or Lombard workshop. Hand-carved in wood, gessoed, and water-gilded over a red bole, it retains its original mercury glass mirror, representing an exceptional example of the transition between the late Baroque and the early Rococo period in northern Italy.
The frame, with a mixtilinear profile and remarkable sculptural depth, displays a rich carving of rocaille scrolls, acanthus leaves, and floral motifs, crowned by an expressive male mascaron —the traditional uomo fogliato of Italian iconography— a protective and nature-inspired symbol. At the lower section, an elegant rocaille shell balances the composition and brings movement to the overall design.
Regarding its condition, the Italian Baroque mirror shows localized losses of gilding and gesso on the most protruding areas, consistent with an object over three centuries old. However, it has not been restored or repainted, preserving its original surface and authentic eighteenth-century patina.
The mercury glass is original to the piece and exhibits visible oxidation, areas of darkening, and irregular silvered points, characteristic of natural mercury aging. The reflection remains partially legible and stable, with no detachment or structural alteration, confirming the authenticity of the material and the overall soundness of the mirror.
Dimensions
Height: 41 cm (16.14 in)
Width: 45 cm (17.71 in)
Depth: 6.6 cm (2.55 in)
These traces of age do not detract from its value but rather attest to the quality of the materials and the historical integrity of the piece. Structurally solid and stable, this Italian Baroque mirror combines exceptional sculptural vigor with the warm tone of its aged gilding. Its decorative presence is both powerful and balanced, suitable for classic interiors as well as contemporary projects that appreciate unrestored authenticity as a mark of elegance and material truth.
With its craftsmanship, formal rarity, and intact state free from modern intervention, this eighteenth-century Italian Baroque mirror stands as an outstanding example of northern Italian decorative art, highly regarded by collectors, gallerists, and interior designers seeking pieces of history, identity, and authenticity.
Condition: good; unrestored; original patina; structurally stable.
