A Rare Geo III Parquetry Framed Mirror

A very rare and unusual early Geo III parquetry framed mirror with arched compass crest.

The decorative effects achieved by parquetry and marquetry veneers blossomed in the 17th and 18th centuries as wealthy merchant classes increasingly adopted courtly tastes. The availability of expensive and rare exotic furniture timbers – from the East – as well as the West Indies – made sumptuously decorated objects and surfaces in a variety of woods possible.

Laburnum in this case, is used in ‘oyster-cut’ form, normally seen on earlier William and Mary cushion frames and chests in the 17th century, the smooth glossy surface reflecting a deep, dark velvety coffee brown contrasting against the satinwood (or boxwood) ground in a striking geometric pattern of hexagons and triangles for the surround. The plain, stepped arched crest is finished in overlapping fan shapes of oyster laburnum centred by a sunburst motif with similar pointed dials in contrasting ebony and satinwood anchoring the four corners of the rectangular frame. In the 18th century these ‘dials’ were often expressed as a star shape resembling a compass, and used as inlays in door panels of cabinets-on-stand, as well as in inlaid corners or centre medallions.

The overall outline of the frame with its ‘flattened’ crest is reminiscent of cushion-framed mirrors popular around turn of the 18th century.

The back/base timber appears to be pine, untouched and of a wonderful darkened colour, and the beautifully oxidised mirror plate original. English, circa 1750