French Louis XVI Gilded Mirror with Fleur-de-lis Motifs

• Scallop / Shell Motif - The shell motif has been used in furniture and decorative arts for centuries. In ancient Greece and Rome, shells were often used as decorative elements on furniture and in mosaics. The scallop or cockleshell are the most commonly used. During the Renaissance, the shell motif became popular in furniture and architecture, as the ornate decoration was seen as a symbol of wealth and luxury. In the 18th century, the Rococo style of furniture and decorative arts featured an abundance of shell motifs, and it was used by Thomas Chippendale and as a feature on Queen Anne style cabriole legs. In the 19th century, the shell motif was incorporated into Victorian furniture and decorative items, and often a representation of the the conch shell was inlaid into furniture.
  
  

• Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
  
  For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
  
  Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
• Fleur-De-Lis - The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily or iris flower with
  
  three petals that has been used as a decorative motif for thousands of years. It
  
  often appears in Christian iconography symbolising the Holy Trinity and as an
  
  emblem that reflects the purity of the Virgin Mary. In decorative art and antiques
  
  decoration, the fleur-de-lis is often used as a symbol of elegance, refinement,
  
  and good taste.
  
  
  
  
  The fleur-de-lis has a rich history and in ancient times, it
  
  was associated with royalty, purity, and the divine, and it was used as a
  
  symbol of the French monarchy for many centuries.
  
  
  
  
  It is a common design element in ceramics, silverware, jewellery,
  
  furniture, and other decorative objects, and it can be found in many different
  
  styles and forms.
  
  

• Pierced Decoration - Ornamental woodwork with part of the background cut through and removed to produce an open-work pattern.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• mirrors, wall, period, age or style
  • cushion style 114
  • French 663
  • Louis style 371