A George II carved giltwood overmantel or pier mirror

possibly by William and John Linnell

Footnotes

A tracing, made by James Chance in circa 1882, of some drawings originally executed by John Linnell include a mirror of approximate shape and proportions to the present lot. This is illustrated in H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, Vol II, 1980, London, fig. 159, p. 82 and it incorporates a similar pagoda canopy cresting and foliate branch flanks. Additionally, some steps, a waterfall, a fretwork balustrade and a pagoda canopy which are closely related to those carved details depicted on the offered example appear in another pen, ink and watercolour design by Linnell, dated circa 1755, William and John Linnell, fig. 161, p. 83.

Comparable steps and foliate branches feature as distinctive elements of two more John and William Linnell 'pier glass' drawings. The first is a pen, ink and watercolour design from circa 1755 whilst the second, which is a pen, ink and wash one dating to 1755-1760, includes a matching pier table immediately below it, Ibid, fig.'s 181 & 202, pp.'s 94 and 105. Both of the latter are of similar outline to the present model, and all three have virtually identical shaping to each end of the base of their frames. A Linnell drawing, circa 1755-1760, of a further mirror employs an idiosyncratic foliate pagoda canopy cresting which conforms to the two smaller or subsidiary pagoda canopies on the above, Ibid, fig. 183, p. 95.

Among the select group of related mirrors, two notable examples are illustrated in P. Macquoid, A History of English Furniture, 1989, London, fig. 699, p. 309 and G. Child, World Mirrors, 1650-1900, 1990, London, fig. 154, pp.'s 208 & 117. The former is the highly important Badminton Overmantel made in circa 1752-1753 by William and John Linnell for the Chinese Bedroom at Badminton House on behalf of Charles, 4th Duke of Beaufort (d.1756). The latter, dated 1760 and described as being 'in the manner of John Linnell', shares many characteristics with both the Badminton House mirror and the present model. Among these are; the pagoda canopy; leafy branch borders; steps; elongated C- and S- scrolls and the pierced fretwork balustrade or gallery.

Further comparables incorporating these features which have appeared at auction include three overmantels attributed to William and John Linnell that sold: Christie's, London, 8 July 2010, 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe, lot 124; Christie's, New York, 22 October 2010, 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe and Christie's, New York, 11 December 2014, The Exceptional Sale, lot 3. Of these, perhaps the closest to the offered variant is the one, circa 1755, which sold in London. Both examples have pierced upper canopies adorned with scrolled acanthus spray crestings, whilst they likewise employ similar smaller subsidiary 'foliate' canopies flanking their main plates. The Daylesford House mirror, with virtually identical guilloche piercing to its canopy cresting as that appearing on the offered lot, sold Christie's New York, April 16 1994, lot 161.

However, the distinctive central projecting 'baldacchino' supported on columns, which is the central element on each of the aforementioned versions, is noticeably absent from the present model. And with regard to its restrained elegance in terms of overall design, one could argue that the above version has as much in common with a more understated pier mirror dating to circa 1760 that is illustrated in H.F. Schiffer, The Mirror Book, 1983, Exton, fig. 276, p. 118.

Finally, another related drawing worthy of comparison is for a mirror designed by Thomas Johnson originally published as plate 32 in his Collection of Designs in 1758. It has several similar characteristics in common with the offered example including the winding steps, foliate branches and acanthus-adorned pagoda canopy cresting and is illustrated in Pictorial Dictionary of British 18th Century Furniture Design, compiled by E. White, p. 335.

Literature
H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, 1980, London.
P. Macquoid, A History of English Furniture, 1989, London.
G. Child, World Mirrors, 1650-1900, 1990, London.
H.F. Schiffer, The Mirror Book, 1983, Exton.
Pictorial Dictionary of British 18th Century Furniture Design, compiled by E. White, 2000, Woodbridge.