An important Irish giltwood pier mirror by James and Richard Jackson circa 1790

the cresting with beveled mirror glass, the backboards with a paper label printed JACKSON, / N^{o. 5 / Essex Bridge / DUBLIN.} within a husk-wreath medallion. Over-gilt.

Anonymous sale, Christie's, London, 26, May 1977, lot 25

The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2007, p. 268, cat. 250

Provenance: Anonymous sale, Christie's, London, 26, May 1977, lot 25 Literature: The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2007, p. 268, cat. 250 Overall good restored condition; over-gilt each ostrich plume to the cresting with two old repaired cracks or breaks at the point where the plume curves forward; the central plum with a repaired break to the middle of the plume; old repaired break to the right ribbon swag at join with the corner of the frame; small chips to gilding to bottom right corner of frame revealing some old gilding; small chip to gilt-gesso decoration of bottom left, upper left and upper right corners of the frame; old loss to one gilt-gesso husk to top edge towards the right side and now with inpainting; the mirror glass panes appear to be original; the top central mirro glass with a loss to the top left and right corners; the central mirror glass beveled; the lower left side mirror glass with loss to the silvering of the side; overall the mirror glasses with tarnishing, pitting, minor losses and crystallization to the silvering.
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.

The present mirror is illustrated, The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, 2007, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 268, cat. 250, and sold anonymously, Christie's, London, May 26, 1977, lot 25.   The backboard bears a printed label JACKSON, / N^o. 5 / Essex Bridge / DUBLIN, and was probably made by Richard Jackson.  Richard Jackson together with his brother James had continued their father Thomas's business.  A number of bills survive from Aldborough House for a number of chimney and pier glasses which Richard Jackson supplied to the Earl of Aldborough, suggesting that the Jacksons were primarily involved in making frames for mirrors.  The use of the Prince of Wales's plumes as a decorative element was widely used in furniture as seen in a number designs, including Sheraton's use of it for the backrests of chairs.