This little Louis XIV gilded mirror illustrates the savoir-faire of 18th century miroitiers, guillocheurs, stuqueur and gold leaf gilder. It will bring happiness in a secret boudoir where it will have the place of honor.

To find out all about the great adventure of craftsmen mirror makers such as that of bimbelotier-mirreliers of yore, a reference book is available for consultation on line on the Bibliothèque nationale de France website:

This little Louis XIV gilded mirror illustrates the savoir-faire of 18th century miroitiers, guillocheurs, stuqueur and gold leaf gilder. It will bring happiness in a secret boudoir where it will have the place of honor.
Little Gilded Wooden Mirror – Louis XIV – 18th century – Midi Pyrénées – [ME 110]

Derived from and reminding you the great fashion of mirrors under the reign of Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil (Sun King), this little mirror with a gilded wooden frame reveals the savoir-faire of craftsmen mirror makers of the 18th century. Before being gilded, its wooden frame was given to a stucco plasterer (stucateur). What then is a stucateur? As a craftsman, he works with stucco, a mixture of marble powder, slake lime (chaux éteinte), chalk and pigments that, once all has been poured into different moulds allows preparing the patterns to be affixed on the wooden frame. In this case floral pattern interlacing in every corner, overhanged by prickly acanthus leaves. Those spikes precisely symbolizing the ordeals of life and death. Celebrating them also illustrates our being able to overcome them. This stucco plastered frame was then handed over to a guillocheur.  This craftsman guilloche, that is, adorns the motif with interlaced and superimposed discreet architectural lines with a gripping symmetry and perspective effect. Guillochis refers to these cross-braced motifs. One realizes this very meticulous work when taking a closer look at the pareclose structure of this Louis XIV gilded wood mirror. And then watergilding: the stucco plastered guilloché frame was then covered with leaf gold on a thin layer of ochre red clay called “le bol d’Arménie”. Transparency helps to see the thin layer of red clay. One can well imagine the extraordinary mastery of the gold leaf ornementalist craftsman. This lovely antique still has the original mercury mirror. This Louis XIV gilded mirror has an authentic charm and can easily be housed in the most secret boudoir salon.

Size
Height: 52 cm, Width: 45 cm

Reference: [ME110]

A yesteryear craft, the guillocheur was responsible for tracing guillochis on all surfaces, that is, discreet cross-braced symmetrical lines.
A yesteryear craft, the guillocheur was responsible for tracing guillochis on all surfaces, that is, discreet cross-braced symmetrical lines.
At the four corners of this Louis XIV mirror, one notices overflowing prickly acanthus leaves, the spines precisely symbolizing the ordeals of life and death. They do celebrate our strength to overcome them.
At the four corners of this Louis XIV mirror, one notices overflowing prickly acanthus leaves, the spines precisely symbolizing the ordeals of life and death. They do celebrate our strength to overcome them.

I am interested in purchasing