Large 19th Century Louis XV Trumeau Mirror in Gilded Wood with 24 Carat Leaf

A very elegant, large mirror in wood gilded with 24-carat gold leaf.
Its pediment reveals a shell, embellished with scrolls and floral motifs.
The original mercury mirror is enhanced by a beautiful frieze of gilded pearls.

Period: 19th century
Style: Louis XV Louis XV style
Dimensions: Total height: 165cm x Width: 140cm x Depth: 5cm

French designers and architects incorporated the use of mirrors into the design of their spaces in the 17th century, when they were still quite rare. 

The gilded baroque mirror, which was a popular luxury, was used to enlarge a larger room and increase reflections inside, and they also created the illusion of width in small rooms. 
The French were the first to explore the uses of mirrors, and they continue to be a central feature of French interior architecture.

The popularity of mirrors in 18th-century France is also attributed to their historical significance. 
They were man-made from unnatural glass. 
Even high-quality glass, however, still had marbling, clouds and mud on its surface. 
Its use was also a symbol of wealth and power. 

French monarchs loved mirrors and commissioned Mr Jules Ardouin Mansart to create them to dazzle us.