A Rare 18th Century George II Carved Cut Gesso and Giltwood Mirror, Circa 1730

A Rare George I Gilt-Gesso Pier Glass Mirror, Circa 1725. England. In the Manner of John Belchier The mirror has an elaborately carved gilt-gesso frame, which was a hallmark of luxu...

A fine and rare early 18th century George I Gilt Gesso pier or console mirror. In the manner of John Belchier The shaped bevelled mirror plate sit...

A Large and Important George I Gilt-Gesso Pier Glass, Attributed to John Belchier, Circa 1725. England. Divided by the original arched and rectangular soft bevelled mirror plates within a gadrooned and foliate-carved border surmounted by an impressive foliate crest, flanked by profusly carved scrolling acanthus wings above a punch decorated carved frieze. Provenance Clopton Hall, Rattlesden, Suffolk John Belchier ‘The Sun’, south side of St Paul's Churchyard, London; cabinet maker (fl.1699-d. 1753). This impressive mirror can be confidently attributed to the London cabinetmaker John Belchier based on similarities with two large pier glasses he supplied in 1723 and 1726 to John Meller at Erdigg in Denbighshire, Wales (National Trust; illustrated, Early Georgian Furniture, by Adam Bowett, p.292 plates 6:50-51). Originally destined for the Second Best Bedroom and Best Bedchamber respectively, they now hang in the Saloon. The earlier mirror shares comparable strapwork cresting with double scrolls centering a mask whilst the second incorporates bold, inward-curving scrolls carved in high relief along the upper border of the frame that overlap onto the top edge of the plate. These distinctive, palm-like scrolls appear on other mirrors attributed to Belchier, among them an example in the Untermyer Collection, Metropolitan Museum, New York (46.116), and a girandole mirror also with a central winged cherub mask in the crest sold Sotheby's London, 20 November 2007, lot 13. John Belchier (d.1753), possibly of Huguenot origin, was born in Oxfordshire and served his apprenticeship with the London Joiners' Company from 1699-1707. By 1717 he was established at 'The Sun' in St Paul's Churchyard, London, where his trade bill described his activities as a supplier of 'All sorts of Cabinet Work, Chairs, Glasses, Sconces, & Coach Glasses’, and another trade bill indicated he ‘Grinds & Makes-up all sorts of fine Peer & Chimney Glasses and Glass Sconces, Likewise all Cabbinet Makers Goods’, suggesting mirrors and sconces were a particular specialty of his workshop. His most significant client was the London lawyer and Master of the High Court of Chancery John Meller (1665-1733) for his country estate at Erdigg near Wrexham, and in addition to pier glasses and sconces Belchier provided a magnificent carved and gilt wood State Bed in 1720 and is believed to have supplied two japanned bureau...

Rare Burr walnut George II 18th century kneehole desk / bachelor's chest, circa 1730-1740. England The superb quarter veneered burr walnut top is bordered by a fine feather stringing, cross-banded and edged with cross-grain ovolo mouldings. Six oak lined drawers bearing their original locks and handles and escutcheons surround the central burr walnut cupboard...

A George II Carved Giltwood Pier Mirror with swan neck broken pediment and foliate and shell carved details, retaining original oil gilded surface and bevelled mercury plate. Proven...

A fine 18th Century George II Period Giltwood mirror with swan neck pediment and central cartouche retaining its original vauxhall soft bevelled mirror plate. English, c.1730 This...

A George II Carved Giltwood Palladian Pier Mirror with broken pediment and acanthus topped and foliate carved scrolled cartouche, the frieze with splayed and overlapping palm leaf ce...

A George II Giltwood Pier Mirror The broken swan neck pediment, with rosettes and acanthus leaf carving, centred by an armorial cartouche, depicting a turreted crest incorporating three perched birds, above an acanthus carved frieze, with central mercury plate inset with gadrooned frame...