Antique wall mirror, Keswick style, rectangular, brass shells & bleeding hearts, 1920's English

While this mirror is unmarked, it could be the work of the keswick school of industrial arts because of the style & handmade features. It exemplifies the ideals & techniques of the arts & crafts movement: the frame covered with embossed & hammered brass. With applied neoclassical decoration this mirror is strongly influenced by the arts & crafts movement but kept modern with its minimal form. The brass frame has the warm original antique patina preserved including an attractive natural verdigris patina developed over the years. It has interesting & unique decorations, a combination of handmade & early machine made features. There is an embossed foliate decoration of sea shells & bleeding hearts creating depth & texture. In art, the heart-shaped flowers of the bleeding heart represent strong and unconditional love. The frontal background has the traditional hammered effect. The outer edges of the frame are trimmed with a pressed rope-like pattern. The external brass trim is flat & simple, emphasizing the rectangular shape with an embossed "snake skin" effect decoration. The quality thick silver mirror insert is original to the piece and securely held in place behind the frame. It is fully reflective with a bevelled edge. To hang the mirror on the wall there is a new brass metal chain which is attached to the two original antique metal plates. This antique wall mirror is in very good condition for its age. The antique patina has been preserved on the brass. The brass frame is sound with no missing parts or cracks. The brass surfaces have the original clear lacquer present & an attractive warm patina & verdigris developed over the years adding character, with minor rubbing & superficial marks. The original antique mirror surface is in good condition, it is very reflective with some uniform light foxing in areas but no cracks or chips, minimal superficial marks and a few tiny black dots of foxing, all in line with age & wear and as expected for an antique piece.

Ref. : Y75FHFDR