Louis XVI Style Gold Leaf Antique French Pareclose Mirror circa 1880 (28" wide x 38 1/2" high)

The striking geometric shape of this antique French pareclose mirror from France circa 1880 is enhanced by the use of a "pareclose" design. Before it became feasible to produce large sheets of mirror glass the only way to create a grand expanse of reflection was to add additional pieces of mirror enclosed by a frame and this technique is known as "á pareclose". The additional mirrors are also set at an angle to the main glass and give a wider image of the interior. The octagonal shape of this antique mirror is inspired by the Neoclassic style that developed in France at the end of the eighteenth century and possesses a distinctly architectural presence. The addition of the cartouche at the top of the frame identifies this mirror as being from the later part of the nineteenth century as the central scallop shell has its origin from the Régence period in France (1715-1723) while the delicate floral decoration is inspired by the Rococo period. The other special aspect of this mirror is the use of beveled glass mirrors in each of the separate sections including the main central mirror and the eight surrounding rectangular mirrors.