A George III giltwood oval mirror by Bishop circa 1780

The reverse with a partial paper label inscribed BISHOP / GILDER AND CARVER, / ... Long Acre... LONDON etc. and with a paper label stamped J.E. TAYLOR / 199 / COLLECTION.

John Edward Taylor, Esq.
20 Kensigton Palace Gardens

Sold Christies, London July 1-11, 1912

Overall good condition; the cresting with old glue repaired breaks at join of cresting with husk swags; the apron slightly loose with the serpents held on by one pin and not attached to the apron; extensive wear and losses to the gilding now showing the bole and gesso in many places; there appears to be a lacquer finish over the gilding to preserve it; two losses to the gilding on the edge of the frame to the upper left quadrant; large loss to the gilding to the lower left and right quadrants; age cracks to the frame a the center of each side and two age cracks to the base of the frame above the apron; the mirror glass appears to be contemporary and possibly original and with loss to the silvering in the center and with pitting and crystallization in places.
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 lot is almost certainly the mirror described by Beard and Gilbert in their Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840, W.S. Maney and Son Limited, Leeds, 1986, p. 75.  The label is described as stating that the carver is 'from Edinburgh'; however, it is very difficult to make out this inscription as the paper label has some losses and cracks through the label.

John Edward Taylor, born outside of Manchester in 1830, was the younger son of John Edward Taylor Sr. (1791-1844), founder of the Manchester Guardian.  He became joint owner of the Guardian with his older brother Russell Scott Taylor at the death of their father in 1844 and became sole owner of the paper at the untimely death of his brother in c.1849 after his year abroad in Germany and his tour through Europe.

He successfully ran the news paper partnered with the editor Jeremiah Garnett, until 1861 and then with his nephew C. P. Scott who took over as editor helping to form the Press Association in 1868, a co-operative of papers which competed with the monopoly held by the three telegraph companies.  Whilst Taylor was a very wealthy news paper magnate, he encouraged his nephew to champion certain, rather unpopular causes such as the opposition to the Boer War, and support for Irish home rule.  Interestingly, he seemed opposed to the Female Suffrage bill of 1892.

By the 1870s, Taylor had moved to his London house at 20 Kensington Palace Gardens and wintered in the French Riviera or in Paris.  His country house, The Coppins, was located in Buckinghamshire.  He became a very important art collector, with an impressive collection of watercolors, many of which were bequeathed to the V&A as well as a complete set of Turner's Liber Sudiorum to the British Museum.  He also owned seven works by Blake and twenty-four works by Turner.  His wife Martha Elizabeth (1828-1912) continued to live in the London house until her death in 1912, when Christie's sold the art collection over the course of twelve days, which realized £358,500.  See: Geoffrey Taylor, 'Taylor, John Edward (1830-1905)', Oxford Dictionary of Nationaly Biography,  Oxford University Press, 2004.