Large Louis-Philippe Oval Green Painted Mirror w/ Original Mercury Plate - 38½" x 28¼"

This large oval wall mirror from the Louis-Philippe period, mid-19th century France, retains echoes of neoclassical motifs from the Louis XVI era, here reinterpreted with the simplicity and restraint characteristic of Louis-Philippe style. Its carved and gessoed wooden frame is painted a deep green with a layered patina, where time has revealed passages of cream gesso and wood beneath. An inner beaded frieze, painted in cream, contrasts elegantly with the dark green border while also recalling the underlying gesso revealed in the patina. The design is marked by clean, sober lines that reflect the pared-down taste of the rising urban bourgeoisie. The original mercury-backed glass plate shows pronounced foxing, which contributes to its atmospheric allure, creating the soft, scintillating reflection so prized in mirrors of this period. A few scratches further enrich its antiquated character, enhancing the sense of history and age. 

With its generous scale and poetic patina, this mirror brings depth and character to interiors. The green surface and delicate beading pair beautifully with plaster walls, limestone, and pale oak, while the mottled mercury glass flatters lamplight and candlelight, enriching the mood of a space. It hangs with elegance above a mantel, in an entryway over a console, or as a grounding element in a dining room vignette. It is equally at home in a bedroom, where its softly blurred reflection adds romance above a commode or dressing table. Whether in a French Country setting or a contemporary interior, it provides a focal point of texture, history, and quiet refinement.