A GEORGE I GESSO MIRROR GIRANDOLE BY JAMES ARBUTHNOT

A GEORGE I GESSO MIRROR GIRANDOLE BY JAMES ARBUTHNOT
English, 1723
Height: 52½ in; 132 cm
Width: 33¼ in; 85 cm
Depth: 4 in; 10 cm
Ref. 4499251
Price Range: £100,000.00 +
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Note: The mirror retains most of the original gilding and the original mercury silvered bevelled mirror plate. The glass candle arms and brass sockets are of later date. The shaped, engraved and gilded back plates for the candle arms are original.
The frame is signed and dated within the sanding on the left hand corner.
JAMES ARBUNOT 1723
The Arbuthnots were French Huguenots and were very familiar with the latest continental fashions. This mirror stands out for its unusually shaped glass plate and the large scale candle sockets, which are finely engraved and gilded, and an interestingly abstract acanthus leaf carved moulding comparable to that seen on other commissions associated with the Arbuthnot family. Following the death of Jacob Arbuthnot early in 1722 his son James carries on the business until 1727. It is interesting to not that James carries on the family tradition using the same distinctive mouldings his father used as well as more complex shaped glass plates which exhibit the companies immense skill as glass grinders. The engraved back plates of the candle sconces are larger than the norm and allow extra space for fine engraving, a skill the his father Jacob was known for.