An Important 18th Century George I Gilt Gesso Mirror, C 1725

An Important 18th Century George I Gilt Gesso Mirror, C 1725

An important early 18th century George I Gilt Gesso mirror, circa 1720-1730. England

In the manner of John Belchier

The shaped and softly bevelled looking-glass sits within an upright gilt gesso rectangular moulded frame decorated with finely carved rosette-and-ribbon, scrolling lobed acanthus corners with a shaped apron of scrolls centred by a naturalistic shell. The highly decorated pagoda cresting between the broken scroll egg and dart winged pediment is profusely carved with acanthus raised on capital and swag, flanked by dramatic eagles grasping foliage into c-scrolls.

The characteristically bold volute scrolls appears to be one of the recurrent aesthetic elements found on mirrors executed by John Belchier. However, other aspects widely associated with Belchier’s output are the inclusion of the foliate strap-work decoration terminating in an acanthus scroll, gadrooning to the frame and a Venus-shell clasped apron. All of which can be seen on the present mirror.

Related mirrors, those either by or attributed to John Belchier, include the important ‘Erddig’ pier glass supplied on behalf of John Meller for the Best Bedchamber of Erddig Park, Clwyd (or Denbighshire) in North Wales during the period 1722-1726. The former is illustrated in A. Bowett, Early Georgian Furniture, 1715-1740, Woodbridge, 2009, pl. 6:51, p. 292 and R. Edwards and M. Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, 1700-1800, London, 1962, fig. 36, p. 137. Although it is interesting to note that Edwards and Jourdain attribute the Erthig model to the Moore and Gumley partnership rather than to Belchier.