Late 17th Century French Baroque Walnut Marquetry Mirror w/ Mercury Plate - 33" x 28¼"

A late 17th-century mirror from southern France, featuring a deep cushion frame veneered in rich walnut and inlaid with contrasting fruitwood marquetry of scrolling foliage and stylized flowerheads. The original beveled mercury-backed plate survives, its surface marked by atmospheric foxing that creates a soft, moody shimmer while remaining functional where perfect clarity is not required.

The frame shows small age-related marks and minor restorations, all consistent with its long history, while the beautifully timeworn mirror plate enhances the piece’s character. Together, these elements give the mirror a handsome, authentic presence, rich in patina and unmistakably antique in feeling. This provincial Baroque mirror reflects the era’s taste for bold profiles and ornamental inlay, interpreted by workshops of the Languedoc region, long renowned for their skilled walnut craftsmanship. Mercury silvering was the prestige method of the period, prized for its luminous depth; centuries of oxidation have since given the surface its characteristic constellation of speckles, an effect now valued by collectors for its authenticity and atmospheric charm.

Hang it above a console in an entry, over a mantel, or in a powder room where a softer reflection enhances atmosphere. It's dark, figured woods and warm inlay pair beautifully with stone, linen, or gilded frames, and it layers well within a gallery wall. The timeworn plate lends a muted, atmospheric reflection, bringing depth and a quiet sense of history to both traditional and contemporary interiors

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Approx. overall 33" high x 28¼" wide x 2¾" thick
Approx. overall 84cm high x 72cm wide x 7cm thick