Artworks
European, viceregal & Asian art
Mirror Frame with Cresting
Unidentified maker, attributed to Guatemala, First half of the 18th century, proposed dating
Carved and assembled wood, tortoiseshell veneer, mother-of-pearl decoration, gilt elements and mirror glass
123 × 88 cm
Tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl ornament surround the mirror in carefully ordered bands, crowned by an elaborate carved cresting. The contrast between reflective surfaces, dark veneer and floral scrollwork creates a striking...
Tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl ornament surround the mirror in carefully ordered bands, crowned by an elaborate carved cresting. The contrast between reflective surfaces, dark veneer and floral scrollwork creates a striking Baroque furnishing. Family provenance places the work in Guatemala before its transfer to Spain prior to 1960. Together with its ornamental affinities, this history supports the proposed Guatemalan attribution and dating to the first half of the eighteenth century.