Description

This high-quality William and Mary marquetry mirror with cushioned frame is adorned in elaborate marquetry of exotic woods.

The William and Mary period is a furniture design common from 1700 to 1725 in the Netherlands, the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Scotland, Kingdom of Ireland and later, in England’s American colonies. From birth in 1650, William had reigned over five provinces of the Dutch Republic, and Mary had lived in the Netherlands with him after their marriage in 1677. William and Mary brought to their kingdoms a taste for Dutch furniture styles, as well as a number of Dutch furniture-makers and brought with them a number of important furniture forms and techniques including exotic veneers and inlay decoration. William and Mary furnishings represented a refined way of living, replacing heavy and often cumbersome pieces of furniture from the previous decades. Furnishings from this period are rare and highly collectible, as is the case with this exceptionally fine mirror.

 

Mirror glass was a particular luxury during the latter 17th century, for it was in short supply. Since the process to produce mirrored glass was so costly and labor-intensive, the frames that surrounded these treasured items were important in both function and design.