A Mid-18th Century George II Period Tabernacle Mirror

A mid-18th century walnut and parcel gilt mirror in the form of a tabernacle, the swan pediment with scrolling rosettes above a kitkat moulded frame with shaped apron.

This mirror was made during the first truly Classical Revival Movement in English architecture and furniture design. The great British designers of the 1730s and 1740s looked to the villas of Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) for inspiration in a movement that came ot be known as Neo-Palladianism.

For the first time, architects specifically created furniture to fit the interior architecture of houses. Pieces such as this mirror were integral to an overall scheme. While the Rococo Movement continued to flourish, Neo-Palladian designers such as William Kent (1685-1748) offered a monumental alternative which can be seen in creations such as Houghton Hall in Norfolk and Chiswick House in Middlesex.