Neoclassical Mirror With Phoenix Louis XVI Circa 1780

Elegant neoclassical ice with Louis XVI phoenixes in carved and gilded lime wood surmounted by a pediment. Rectangular in shape, this lovely ice cream is divided into two distinct parts; an upper part, the pediment and a bass embedding the mirror. The delicately openwork pediment is adorned very finely in its middle part of a pair of firebirds, the phoenixes with the fiery plumage perched at the cross of a quiver equipped with arrows and a flaming torch, the whole resting on the clouds protected from olive branches. The second part of rectangular shape where runs on the periphery a rod with double flat profiles, adorned with stripes of hearts on a first level and then streaks of pearls on the inner periphery. Each of the chopsticks, both horizontal and vertical, are joined at their corners by a tile surmounted by a sunflower flower. The top tiles are enhanced with a plume of bay leaves; the lower ones rest on small feet raised with lotus flowers. Laterally on the outside garlands of oak leaves overflow the vertical ends, rising for the lower ones, descending for those at the top. The horizontal part of the bottom is likewise embellished along with garlands of divergent oaks centered on a cylindrical staple; the set serving as a frame for the mercury mirror embedded centrally. The back consists of a maritime pine floor. We find in this decoration the beautiful classic ornaments of the neoclassical decorative arts of the last third of the century of lights; a period when the discoveries of Herculaneum and Pompeii strongly influenced the stylistic characters of neoclassicism. Allegory of love par excellence, the symbolism of love is very nicely expressed; the pair of firebirds, the phoenixes symbolizes the immortality of love, which will reborn forever. The theme of the phoenix is ​​a very strong ornament and particularly sought after because excessively rare, the flaming torch as well as the quiver equipped with Cupid's arrows are more redundant but just as explicit. Observation: This ice is in a state of preservation fabulous completely of time; of course the mercury mirror is also original. . It should be noted that a simple cleaning of the gilded woods and woodwork and a deep treatment were practiced.
Dimensions:
Height 153.5cm / 60.24 inchwidth 77.5cm /30.31 inch.