A late George II carved giltwood pier mirror circa 1755

By Order of the Executors of the late The Rt. Hon. The Third Viscount Astor, removed from Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, sold Christie`s 6th July 1967, lot 43.

Anonymous sale, sold Christie`s London, Important Furniture, Tapestries and Carpets, 4th July 1996, lot 336.

Anonymous sale, sold Christie`s London, Important English Furniture, 15th April 1999, lot 35, designated `The Property of a Gentleman'.

The present mirror relates to a series of designs for wall mirrors which express the interest in Gothic and Chinoiserie designs prevalent in the middle of the 18th century popularised by Thomas Chippendale, Thomas Johnson, Mathias Lock and Ince and Mayhew all of whom published designs in this taste.   

Although no identical drawing for the present mirror appears to exist elements can be seen  in  Thomas Johnson `Collections of Designs', 1758,  and `One Hundred and Fifty New Designs', 1761, pl. 38 (1758), pl.30 (1761), William Ince and John Mayhew `The Universal System of Household Furniture', 1762,  pl. LXXXVI Gothic Chimney Pieces, and Edward & Darly, ` A New Book of Ornaments', 1752, pl.68.

A related example was sold Christie`s New York, 19th October, 2000, Important English Furniture, lot 149.

A pair of mirrors of identical design sold Dreweatt Neate, Donnington Priory, Berkshire, Collection of The Hon. Daisy Fellowes, Donnington Grove, Newbury, Berkshire, 1st May 2001, lot 141.