29 of 87 lots
29
A North Italian Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid, Parcel Gilt and Black Lacquered Mirror
Estimate: $2,500-$4,000
Sold
$7,500
Live Auction
Property from the Aline Elwes McDonnell Trust
Description

A North Italian Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid, Parcel Gilt and Black Lacquered Mirror

Possibly Venice, Late 16th/ Early 17th Century

Height 25 x width 19 1/2 inches.

Condition
Appearing in overall fair and ready to hang condition. The gilt decoration refreshed. Small areas of loss to the decoration as is typical for age. Mother of pearl elements are intact throughout. Scattered old repairs and one recent glue repair including one to the crest, not immediately noticeable. The mirror plate is a later replacement and is lacking some of its silvering in one corner. Please see additional images.
Provenance
Provenance:Aline Thorold (1869-1951) m. Ernest James Wythes (1868-1949) at Copped Hall, Essex, until 1917 and The Wood House, Essex, thereafter and by descent toBarbara Dorothy Wythes (1896-1984) m. (Francis) Guy Robert Elwes (1895-1966) at The Wood House, Essex until 1961 and Ham Spray House, Marlborough, thereafter and by descent to Aline Mary Margaret (Elwes) McDonnell (1923-2023) m. Hubert McDonnell Jr. (1919-2004), Greenwich, Connecticut, and thence by descent Note: This modest-scale early mirror relates to a mother-of-pearl inlaid example in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, item 07980, dated to the late 16th century. As the gateway to the East and a strong maritime power, mother-of-pearl was widely used in Venice for the adornment of furniture, mirrors and cosmetic articles which were the ultimate signifiers of wealth and power for their owners. The present example follows the pedimented form with cartouche decoration popular at the time in Northern Italy. Pictured:An 1807 engraving of Copped Hall, S. Rawle from a drawing by S. Shepherd.Aline Elwes McDonnell and Family, circa 1954.