Description
For centuries, Venetian mirrors were among the costliest and technically demanding luxury objects in Europe—coveted by royalty and nobles and often valued on par with major works of art. This authentic 1940s Italian mirror carries the legacy of a 500-year-old tradition once protected by strict Venetian secrecy laws that forbade glass masters from leaving the island in order to guard their unrivaled mirror-making techniques.
The mirror is constructed with a solid wood backing, likely pine. Its architectural silhouette features multiple hand-cut glass overlays, including traditional giglio (fleur-de-lis) elements secured with decorative glass-capped rosettes. The intricate etched decorative panels reflect the influence of the legendary Barbini glassmaking family, active since the 16th century, whose tradition was so esteemed that Venetian glassmakers of their school were brought to France in 1665 to help develop the royal glassworks that later supplied mirrors for the Palace of Versailles.
A central beveled mirror plate is framed by an octagonal mirrored border enriched with hand-etched floral motifs and scrolling classic characteristics of finely executed Venetian glasswork from the mid-20th century.
H=50 in. W=28.5 in. D=3 in. 30 lbs.
