A pair of George I carved giltwood and gesso pier mirrors circa 1720, in the manner of John Belchier

the arched divided bevelled plates within a faceted mirror border, surmounted by a foliate cresting flanked by a leaf carved scrolling pediment with scrolls to the sides and with a conforming shell-carved apron

In overall good conserved condition, regilt, loss to beveled border of one mirror, minor losses to gilding, hole marks of old candle arms to lower section of frame, restored break to crest. Mirror plates replaced .
"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 present pair of pier-glasses closely relate to an example supplied by the London cabinet-maker John Belchier (d.1753), to John Meller in 1726 for one of the best bedchambers at Erddig Park, Denbighshire, Wales (now in the Saloon) at a cost of £50 (see R. Edwards and M. Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, rev. ed, London 1946, p. 99, fig. 33 and erroneously attributed to Moore and Gumley). A corner cupboard with central mirror plate (sold Magnificent Chinese mirror paintings and English furniture from the Horlick Collection, Sotheby’s, London, 5 June 2007, lot 28) attributed to Belchier, also shares similar gadrooned borders to the cresting and scrolled volutes, present on the offered lot.  Similar characteristics are also repeated on a further example illustrated in G. Child, World Mirrors 1650-1900, London 1990, p.78, fig.51.

Belchier, whose name is thought to reflect Huguenot origins, was possibly the son of another important craftsman, also John Belchier, who may well be the tradesman who worked extensively for Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu, at Boughton House, Northamptonshire, during the latter part of the 17th century. John Belchier, the younger, received his most significant commission from John Meller at Erddig, Wales, for whom he produced not only the comparable mirror (illustrated in Jourdain op. cit. fig.33) but a celebrated suite of gilt and silvered gesso furniture during the 1720s (cf. Martin Drury, 'Early Eighteenth-Century Furniture at Erddig,' Apollo, July 1978, pp.46-55). In the 1730s he also carried out important work for the Purefoy family at Shalston, Buckinghamshire. In addition to cabinet work, Belchier also produced both clear and mirrored glass. Records reveal that he supplied a quantity of glass for St. Paul's Cathedral in the 1720s and in all likelihood he manufactured the glass for his own furniture.

He is recorded as cabinet-maker at The Sun, on the south side of St. Paul's Church Yard in 1717 until his death in 1753 at the age of seventy. His trade labels appeared in several formats, cut as either a square or circle with his name spelt either 'Bel-Chier' or, 'Belchier.' Another more informative variant was a rectangular label, headed by his shop sign - an ornamental sun - which appears on the reverse of a burr walnut bureau cabinet sold in these Rooms, 14 November 1980, lot 30. It notes that Belchier was a maker of 'fine Peer and Chimney-Glasses, and Glass Sconces, Likewise all Cabbinet Makers Goods.'