A highly elaborate and important mid 18th century Chippendale period carved gilt wood mirror retaining most of the original plates, the cartouche-shaped frame surmounted by a stylised foliate pagoda cresting shading a carved tiered fountain, flanked by naturalistic foliate carved bowed branches, the oval central plate with a border glass divided by lush foliate carving of 'C' and 'S' scrolls with a shaped apron below centred by an open cartouche.
This looking glass is very much in the style of the work of John Linnell (1729-1796). John Linnell and his father William are amongst the most renowned of English furniture designers and cabinet-makers, and their furniture and designs can be seen in many distinguished houses and museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.
The forms of rococo, with its free-handed S- and C- shaped curves, asymmetry and floral and naturalistic motifs, lent themselves perfectly to the frame carver, who interpreted these often extraordinary designs to create exuberant pier glasses, as displayed by this splendid example.