Early 18th-Century French Régence Giltwood Mirror w/ Foxed Mercury Glass and Sculptural Crest - 27½" x 15¾"

This early 18th-century French Régence giltwood mirror has a poetic, timeworn presence. The rectangular frame is finely carved with flowers, berries, and acanthus, and surmounted by a ribboned crest centered with a small oval mirror plate. This large, elaborately carved crest gives the mirror a distinctly sculptural presence, allowing it to read as an ornamental work in its own right rather than solely as a reflective surface. Slim marginal mirror slips surround the central pane, adding depth and rhythm to the design. The original mercury glass shows pronounced speckling and clouding, creating a richly atmospheric surface, while the gilding has softened to a warm, burnished gold with traces of red bole. Made during the Régence period (early 18th century), the mirror reflects the refined naturalism and elegance that marked the transition from late Baroque formality to the lighter spirit of the Rococo. Decorative rather than purely functional, this mirror lends a soft, ambient glow and a richly layered sense of history to an interior. It is particularly effective above a console or mantel, where candlelight can animate the gilded carving, or in a powder room or entry, where the gently mottled glass introduces depth and intrigue.