Napoleon III wall mirror in burnished brass, mid-19th century. Large and imposing brass frame from the Napoleonic era with a central ground mirror whose reflective surface was obtained with the ancient mercury technique. Along each side of the frame, as many mirrors have been positioned, with refined and detailed grinding of flowers and leaves meticulously done by hand. The decorations are exceptionally rich and elaborate, executed in Rococo style by master chisellers of rare skill; it is difficult to find such beautiful ones in a single object and they are also distributed with extreme stylistic elegance. The frame is surmounted by a characteristic triangular rosette which contains a noble coat of arms surrounded by suggestive chisels. Embossing (repoussé) is a technique for detecting predetermined drafts, figures or designs on the surface of a metal plate using a special hammer on the back and alternating numerous special punches in the process (see photos). This process was known since ancient times and was used by Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and then in the Middle Ages. This frame, after being embossed, was lightly burnished by immersion in a bath of hydrochloric acid and water, then the mirrors were applied and then it was fixed to a solid wood panel. The making of mercury mirrors consisted of placing the metal on top of a series of layers of tin flattened onto the glass. The mercury was then smoothed and polished with a special stone and buffered; the resulting mixture was called "quicksilver". This technique was perfected by Venetian glass masters (Maestro Dal Gallo 1507). The Serenissima kept the processing secret but over time it left the city and spread to European nations, first of all France: the Gallery of Mirrors of the Castle of Versailles is decorated with hundreds of mercury mirrors. This frame was made between 1855 and 1860 on the outskirts of Paris. In the 19th century, Paris was renowned for its workshops specializing in the manufacturing of mercury mirrors. The mercury mirror technique, also known as "Venetian mirror" or "silver mirror", was a popular practice for producing high-quality mirrors. Parisian laboratories were known for their mastery of applying mercury to the back of glass to create clear, sharp reflections. This technique required great skill and knowledge of the chemical processes involved. These workshops and many others like them in Paris attracted skilled craftsmen from different parts of Europe, creating a bustling center for the production of mercury mirrors and related frames which contributed to the development of the industry; the frame was born in this context. It is a work of the highest decorative level and a precious rarity due to its size and exceptional workmanship; furthermore, the presence of the various mirrors in the frame has the ability to transform a room, giving it character and creating interesting and engaging perspective illusions. The framework and mirrors are in good condition. On the back, in recent times, three steel plates have been applied to permanently and solidly fix the upper part of the frame which was only glued; these additions do not disturb aesthetically as they are positioned on the back. The small imperfections of the mirrors, the tiny stains and their veiled surface patina attest to their antiquity and authenticity.
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SILVER Seller in Prato, Italy
