A George II carved giltwood wall mirror mid-18th century, in the manner of John Vardy

the cresting surmounted by an owl or eagle on a rocky outcrop, with rocaille scrolls to either side and with reed decoration and further scroll work decoration to either side and to the base, losses to surmount and part of mirror plate

An impressive design but in very distressed condition with significant losses including most of the crest and the upper plate. The lower plate is broken too. Further losses and detached sections to the carved frame. The gilding is very worn with only traces remaining. A worthwhile restoration project.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

William Kent and John Vardy were professionally very close. With Kent his senior at the Board of Works and in 1744. It was Vardy who published the canonical 'Some Designs of Mr. Inigo Jones and Mr. William Kent'.

The losses sustained by this mirror unfortunately include a part of the cresting, which means it is not possible to determine whether it was headed by an eagle or an owl. Normally it would be an eagle but the silhouette that remains would suggest a stouter bird. If the latter, it is possible that the mirror was a late commission by Lady Burlington whose family, the Saville's, crest was an owl. This device appears on furniture made for her by John Bosson now largely in the Devonshire collection. It should be noted that in the Chiswick Inventories of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, almost every room contained a carved gilt mirror but no further details are given. No mirror of this type appears in the inventories of Devonshire House or Chtasworth during the same period. These facts coupled with the evidence that this mirror has long been in store tends towards a Chiswick provenance.