Classic Design Including Property of the Marquess of Anglesey
Classic Design Including Property of the Marquess of Anglesey
A pair of George III oval giltwood mirrors, late 18th century
Lot Closed
April 11, 04:07 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
the oval plate enclosed by a beaded border and surrounded by eight marginal plates, the apron and crest with tendrils, husks and acanthus leaf carving, the crest with a dish incorporating rams' heads, surmounted by an anthemion, re-gilt
208m high, 87cm wide
Emily Eerdmans, Classic English Design and Antiques: Period Styles and Furniture, New York, 2006, p.187.
This mirror shares several features with Robert Adam’s design illustrated in Works in Architecture of Robert and James Adam, ed. Robert Oresko, 1774 (1975 reprint), vol. I, no. II, pl. VIII, the pier glass for the Parlour at Kenwood House, London. Its oval shape and the delicate ornaments, including a dish with rams’ heads and an apron adorned with acanthus leaves, align with the typical neoclassical ‘Adam Style’. This style is noted for its symmetrical designs inspired by architectural elements, contrasting with the more lavish Rococo style, which is influenced by nature and natural motifs. Adam’s distinctive design approach, demonstrated in commissions such as Kenwood House and Luton Park House, is marked by his innovative use of ancient motifs, including anthemions and rams’ heads, also shown in the present lot.