Sold: Very Large Antique French Gilt Gesso Wall Mirror 19th Century

Name: Very Large Antique French Gilt Gesso Wall Mirror
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA969949
Price: 425 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

FURTHER BROWSING

Visitors also looked at these ⇣

Small French Gilt Mirror C.1880

1880

Antique Victorian Gilt & Gesso Girandole Mirror C1850 Ornate Wall Mirror

Victorian

Gilt Mirror

1920

19th Century Gilt Framed Mirror

19th Century

19th C Gilt Wood Mirror

19th Century

Edwardian Mirror

Victorian

French 19th Century Gilt Mirror

19th Century

A Very Large Antique French 19c Gilt Gesso Wall Hanging Mirror

19th Century

Nineteenth Century Continental Gilt Mirror

19th Century

19thc Giltwood and Gesso Wall Mirror

Victorian

19th Century French Rococo Gilt Wall Mirror, Gesso & Glass 107x87

19th Century

Antique French Gilt and Bare Gesso Mirror

19th Century

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Secure Transit

Cataloguer’s Note

Sustainable Choice

Frequently Asked Questions

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectWall Mirrors
Period19th century
StyleFrench Period
MaterialGesso, Wood, Gold Leaf, Glass
ColourGold
MotifsFloral scrollwork, Beaded inner moulding, Corner cartouches, Crested top rail
SizeH 90 cm (35 in) x W 66 cm (26 in)

FAQs

A French gilt gesso mirror features a wooden frame coated in gessoa mixture of plaster of Paris and binderwhich is then carved, smoothed, and covered in thin layers of gold leaf. These pieces gained prominence in 18th and 19th-century French interior design, reflecting neoclassical and baroque aesthetic influences.

Authentic period pieces typically utilise a sturdy timber base, such as pine or oak, overlaid with multiple coats of gesso and bole. The intricate ornamentation is hand-carved or molded into the gesso before water gilding or oil gilding is applied, often finished with mercury glass plates featuring characteristic foxing and oxidisation.

Authenticity is determined by inspecting the construction joints, the composition of the gesso layer, and the characteristics of the glass plate. Hand-cut timber, historical hand tools marks, shrinkage cracks in the gesso, and natural silvering degradation on the mirror plate all indicate age.

These mirrors serve as dramatic focal points when contrasted with clean architectural lines and minimalist modern furnishings. Positioning the piece above a contemporary marble fireplace or opposite a large window enhances natural light distribution and balances historic ornamentation with modern simplicity.

Preserve the fragile gilt surface by avoiding abrasive cleaning agents, chemical sprays, and direct moisture. Dust the frame gently with a soft, dry ostrich feather duster, and consult a professional conservator if the gesso layer shows signs of flaking or structural instability.

Village Vintage

Very Large Antique French Gilt Gesso Wall Mirror