Small looking glass

1800-1850

Measurements

12-7/8 in x 7-3/8 in x 1-1/8 in

Materials

Unidentified resinous pine, mirrored glass, and paint

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3643

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This small, black-painted looking glass has a scrolled and scalloped pediment applied to a rectangular frame. The scalloping recalls 18th century versions, but it differs in details and is not symmetrical, suggesting distance in time from the earlier tradition.  Evidence of a lush, floral composition painted in reds and yellows remains on the front of the pediment.  Additional painted decoration is on the front faces of the rectangular frame. The back board and frame are also painted black, which is not an early practice and may indicate subsequent work on the looking glass.  It uses cut nails of the early 19th century.