A pair of George I giltwood and gilt-gesso pier mirrors, circa 1725

with foliate scrolled bellflower- and shell-carved crestings, with shaped pediments and flower heads issuing floral tendrils, the bevelled plates within flower head-carved surrounds, with shaped rosette-cented aprons, with scrolled acanthus brackets fitted with candle arms

123cm. high, 71cm. wide; 4ft. 7/16in., 2ft. 3 15/16in.
Provenance

The Collection of Barbara ‘Bobo’ Rockefeller, 13 East 67th Street, New York, from whom acquired by the present owner through Gerald Bland, New York, 5th June 2001.Catalogue note

The impressively varied texture and depth of the carving on these mirrors are typical of the works of John Belchier (1699-1753). First recorded as a cabinet-maker in 1717, he produced both fine cabinet furniture and grand mirrors with carved gilt-gesso frames. His most significant commission was for Erddig in Wales in the mid-1720s, and similar ornament to the present lot can be observed on mirrors NT 1146961 and NT 1146960 in particular. Beyond commissions for residential furniture, he also supplied glass to St Paul's Cathedral in the 1720s.  Though trade labels allow for fixed attributions to Belchier beyond documented commissions, these labels tend to be found on the case furniture and are less frequent on his mirrors.