A magnificent Regency carved giltwood and gesso overmantel frame attributed to Morel and Hughes circa 1815-20

the acanthus scrolled surmount centred by the Devonshire coat of arms quartered with the Boyle and Clifford Arms and Ducal coronet, the inverted breakfront carvetto cornice with acanthus and pine cone decoration, the frieze with a 'panelled' reserve with scrolling foliage between square rosette motifs, each supporting pilaster with conforming 'panelled' reserves and scrolled foliate decoration, each component painted on the reverse; Saloon over fireplace / glass frame to the reverse

Ordered by William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858)

Illustrated in William Henry Hunt's watercolour dated 1822 (see above); illustrated drawing, dated 1828 of the Entrance Hall (Saloon), at Devonshire House (see, Christopher Simon Sykes Private Palaces, London, 1985, illus. p. 102);
Devonshire House Inventory, 1892, p. 75;
Devonshire House Inventory, 1917, p. 103.

Dismanteled into sections. There is a section of gadroon moulding missing and the gilt leaf is flaking. There are chips and losses throughout. However this is a spectacular mirror which will benefit enormously from restoration, overall condition good considering long term storage.
"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."

The palatial scale and grandeur of this overmantle frame is a precursor to the work carried out for George IV and his refurbishment of Windsor Castle in the late 1820s and designed by the Anglo-French cabinet-maker and a protege of Henry Holland, Nicholas Morel. A regular visitor to London's most fashionable house, the King would have been fully aware of the new interior schemes introduced. Numerous examples of similarly conceived mirrors remain at Windsor, part of the commission supplied by Morel and his then partner George Seddon III, that approached a staggering £200,000, and which are illustrated in Hugh Roberts, For The King's Pleasure: The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London, 2001.  

Appearing in William Henry Hunt's 1822 watercolour of the Saloon at Devonshire House, undoubtedly commissioned to record the recently refurbished room, and also showing the suite of seat furniture also attributed to Morel and Hughes, which now furnishes the Library at Chatsworth, the mirror and frame sit atop the Kentian chimneypiece offered as lot 82 in this sale. A further matching mirror, shown in a drawing of 1822 and illustrated overleaf, hung opposite. It is interesting to note that in 1813 a plan of the picture hang shows a painting of Andromice by Guido Renne hanging over the chimney piece (later moved to middle drawing room). On the opposite wall, where the other mirror was hung by 1822, was Henry VIII's portrait by Holbein.

The Cavendish Arms, quartered by those of Boyle and Clifford which surmount the mirror were chosen by the 6th (Bachelor) Duke to reflect his Burlington ancestry in the absence of the arms of a wife.

Other than King George IV, Morel and Hugues' other important patron for whom they are recorded working was the 3rd Duke of Northumberland at his London residence, Northumberland House, situated on the Strand. Here a similarly conceived suite of seat furniture to that illustrated in Hunt's watercolour was supplied for the Crimson Drawing Room on the first floor at the top of the Grand Staircase. Part of this suite remains at Syon Park and Alnwick Castle.