A Queen Anne parcel-gilt figured walnut looking glass, England circa 1750

Lacking piece of veneer on bottom, crest cracked and reglued.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Large Queen Anne style looking glasses with two part glass and an arched crest flanked by scrolls were manufactured in England from the early eighteenth century and imported to America, where they continued to be popular throughout the eighteenth century in all the major cities. The size of the glass alone made such glasses very expensive and the simple design and restrained ornamentation represent an aesthetic preferred in Colonial America. With its carved and gilded shell in the center of the crest, this example was made in the mid-eighteenth century as a response to the Rococo style.

A similar silhouette and decorative shell are found on a walnut veneer looking glass at Yale University (see David Barquist, American Tables and Looking Glasses, New Haven, 1992, no. 166, p. 301). Several other related examples of walnut and mahogany are illustrated in Herbert F. Schiffer, The Mirror Book, Exton, PA: Schiffer Publishing, figs. 99-101).