An Exceptional Highly Unusual Large Antique Gilt Overmantle

Name: An Exceptional Highly Unusual Large Antique Gilt Overmantle Mirror.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1108209
Price: 3495 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectOvermantel Mirrors
Period19th century
StyleFrench Chateau
MaterialGiltwood, Gesso, Glass
ColourGold
MotifsCentral medallion crest, Acanthus leaf scrolls, Arched upper frame, Moulded bead border
SizeH 170 cm (67 in) x W 145 cm (57 in) x D 6 cm (2 in)

This large antique French Chateau style overmantle mirror dates from 1850 and is made from giltwood and gesso with a glass plate and original backboards. The gold frame has an arched upper section, a moulded bead border, and an intricate rococo crest featuring acanthus leaf scrolls and a central medallion with the carved head of a young man. It stands 170 cm high, 145 cm wide, and 6 cm deep. In a modern interior, this piece is placed above the mantel in a principal reception room or hallway to add scale, reflect natural light, and enhance the architectural proportions of the space.

FAQs

Designed to sit directly above a fireplace mantelpiece, an antique gilt overmantel mirror reflects natural light throughout a room while providing an architectural focal point. Popularised during the 18th and 19th centuries, these mirrors feature frames constructed from timber and gesso finished with gold leaf coating.

Craftsmen typically built the structural core from carved softwood or pine, applying a moulded plaster paste known as gesso to create intricate raised ornamentation. Thin sheets of genuine gold leaf were then applied over a red or yellow clay base known as bole before being burnished to achieve a metallic finish.

Genuine period pieces display signs of age such as natural craquelure in the gesso surface, subtle surface wear revealing the underlying clay bole, and original plate glass featuring minor foxing. Additionally, backboards on authentic 19th-century mirrors usually consist of hand-sawn wooden planks secured with historic fixings.

A large gilt mirror serves as a primary feature when placed above a chimney breast, positioned over a sideboard, or leaned against a feature wall. Contrasting the detailed gold finish against plain painted walls or contemporary timber furniture creates a balanced interior aesthetic.

Avoid using liquid cleaners, solvents, or water near the gilded frame, as moisture can dissolve water-gilded finishes and soft gesso layers underneath. Dust the frame gently using a dry soft brush or duster, and clean the glass carefully using a soft microfibre cloth dampened lightly with distilled water.

Cleall Antiques

An Exceptional Highly Unusual Large Antique Gilt Overmantle Mirror.

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