LATE 17TH CENTURY, PARTIALLY REFRAMED CIRCA 1725, POSSIBLY BY JOHN BELCHIER

The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

As stated in the cataloging the core is a William and Mary pier mirror, the outer three sides of the rectangular lower part of the frame have then been commissioned in the early 18th century to encase the extremely slender original frame, which is still visible to the reverse, the plain chamfered inner slip, again to the rectangular section of the frame has then apparently been replaced in the early 19th century, which is probably when the mirror was regilt, the lower border is slightly thicker, probably to allow the main plate to be raised slightly to counter the slippage problem that has clearly been an issue since the time of construction on account of the depth of the bevel to the top edge of the lower plate which offers little support to the upper plate.

As stated in the cataloguing, the upper part of the frame split to the joints causing a clean break to the upper left corner of the top plate; the break is now held with tape. The frame has been repaired and the mirror plate temporarily secured, however, it remains loose and has slipped in the frame, something which appears to have been a long standing problem judging by the pattern of wear to the silvering at the joint between the plates. Would benefit from further stabilization and sympathetic restoration

Gilding analysis was undertaken on this mirror which suggest that this mirror has been gilded only twice.
Original decoration: a white gesso ground built up in thin layers, followed by water gilding over a light brown clay. Remains of this were found in four of the five samples. It was not found on the inner part of the frame border and this to be later. It was found on the main decorated part of the border. Later gilding: the mirror appears to have been quite thoroughly cleaned when it was later regilded, because the original gold only survives in corners and recessed areas. Following the cleaning, fresh gesso was applied quite thickly to all surfaces and then the present gold was applied over a dark brown clay.

There are minor knocks and losses throughout as to be expected as well as fine cracking to the surfaces and joints. Notably there has been movement to the joints to the top of the frame which resulted in the failure in transit and the breakage of the top plate, the frame has now been carefully reassembled but there is minor consequential loss, flaking and a little retouching. Notably, but not limited to a small triangular loss to the upper right corner to the inner moulding. The cresting also has shrunk and warped a little, separating it slightly from the top of the frame a little. It has several repaired breaks although these have affected the gilding relatively little but there are also some losses, most notably an old loss to the lower right-hand corner of the shell cresting. The plates with pleasing foxing and marking to the silvering, apparently original, the back boards possibly replaced. The back has also been temporarily braced for transit.