Looking glass

1815-1840

Measurements

35-3/16 in x 21-3/8 in x 2-3/8 in

Materials

White pine, mirrored glass, metal foil, paint, gesso

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation

Accession Number

1975.34

Condition Notes

The églomisé panel has several cracks in it from a single impact.  The frame appears to have been coated with a metallic paint in imitation of gold leaf; the paint has oxidized to a darker, matte surface.  Two small pieces of molded gesso along the lower border have flanked off.

Provenance

Ex coll. Miss Margaret Janvier Hort.  Her February 6, 1975, invoice states that this looking glass, “Came from Daretown House, but may have originally belonged to Thomas Janvier.”  Thomas Janvier (1772-1852), a nephew of cabinetmaker John Janvier of Odessa, lived in New Castle, Delaware.  Hort likely acquired the looking glass from Dareton descendants of Thomas and Mercy Archer Janvier.

Comments

The rectangular looking glass is set within a deeply molded, gilded frame with an ornamental acorn nailed into each corner.  The upper reverse-painting on glass panel is a hunting scene with a male figure and gun, house, trees, and bridge, all rendered in gold foil (called églomisé) and black coloring against a bright orange setting sun.  Molded gesso molding courses around the églomisé panel and the mirrored panel suggest a date range after about 1820.