A late 17th century carved and gilt-wood frame wall mirror

A magnificent late 17th century carved and gilt-wood frame with a later bevel edged mirror.

In the Renaissance style, this garland frame of fruit and foliage is carved in deep relief with pomegranate, grape vine and acanthus leaves to the corners with a wide outer edge of repeating scallop shells.

The scallop shell is is an ancient Christian symbol and one that has become associated with the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The significance of the scallop shell relates to the arrival of St. James's body in Spain. An area on the coast of Galicia close to his tomb where scallop shells can be naturally found. Pilgrims would return with a shell to prove they had reached their final destination. The scallop shell symbolises the Christian journey more widely.

Whilst the Italian and Spanish frames are stylistically similar, the shells to the boarder would tend to suggest the frame is Spanish.

With great Spanish artists, the 17th Century was almost certainly also the golden age of Spanish frame making and this frame was probably produced for a religious painting.  

A water gilding process has been used to apply gold leaf to the surface of the frame. This involved the application of layers of gesso, a chalk and rabbit skin glue mixture and bole, a clay based paint on which the gold leaf is applied.

The frame has some losses to the gesso and the red colour bole can be seen in some areas however, the carved wooden frame below is almost if not entirely intact. In our opinion this time worn finish has created the most wonderful aesthetic and is entirely consistent with it's age.

The mirror plate is likely to have been fitted in the early 20th Century by carver, frame maker and gilder, George W. Rodway, 7 Durham Place, Kensington, London (see image of label verso).

Continental (probably Spanish) late 17th Century

H: 106cm

W: 128cm

D: 11cm

Ref: DB52