French Gilt Overmantel Mirror 19th Century

Name: 19th Century French Gilt Mirror
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1228808
Price: 950 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s Note

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectMirrors
Period19th century
StyleFrench 19th Century
MaterialGiltwood, Glass, Gesso
ColourGold
MotifsRope twist frame, Floral cresting, Arched top
SizeH 159 cm (63 in) x W 90 cm (35 in) x D 10 cm (4 in)

This nineteenth-century French mirror stands in the Louis XVI taste with an arch-shaped top, a decorative shell and foliage decoration, and an original mercury glass plate. The frame takes a gold colour in giltwood and gesso, showing a rope twist moulding and a central floral crest. Three visible details not noted by the dealer include twisted reeding on the frame, relief-carved floral sprays on the cresting, and aged patination across the gilt surfaces. The piece measures 159 cm high, 90 cm wide, and 10 cm deep. Placement suits rooms as an overmantel mirror above a fireplace, or positioned on a drawing room wall to reflect light. The construction includes an original boarded back and generous proportions suited to traditional interior schemes.

FAQs

A 19th-century French gilt mirror typically features a hand-carved wood frame covered in gesso plaster and finished with gold leaf, often incorporating arched tops, floral crestings, and beaded moulding.

These mirrors were constructed using timber backings and carved frames layered with gesso, coated in clay bole, and finished with real gold leaf. The reflective glass panels often contained silver or mercury amalgam.

Authentic period examples exhibit natural wear on the gold leaf, revealing red or grey clay bole beneath, along with original hand-sawn backboards, square-headed iron nails, and light foxing on the glass.

A French gilt mirror can be placed above a fireplace mantelpiece or console table, where its gold frame contrasts against modern neutral walls while amplifying light across the room.

Dust the gilded frame using a dry soft brush or feather duster, avoiding liquids or chemical polishes that erode gold leaf and gesso. Clean the glass by applying cleaner directly to a cloth rather than spraying the mirror.

Youlls Antiques

19th Century French Gilt Mirror