Venetian
The later plate within a shaped, scroll, foliate and rocaille carved reverse ogee surround decorated with flowers, stylised foliage and scrolled acanthus, surmounted by a shaped cresting decorated with three reclining rustic figures within a rural landscape, 76cm high x 49cm wide.

Footnotes

A harlequin set of four Venetian 18th century 'lacca' mirrors which are closely comparable to the offered lot sold Bonhams, New Bond Street, 13 July 2022, Decorative Arts: Through the Ages, lot 12.

The fashion for exotic lacquer ware from China and Japan reached the Occident a long time ago and came to its apogee in Venice in the 18th Century. Venetian 'laccatori' were among the first to imitate lacquer, and their furniture and objects were much sought after as a result. Chinoiserie motifs closely imitated Oriental patterns at first, but during the second half of the 18th Century, Venetian lacquerers created different designs, loosely combining chinoiserie motifs with figures, animals, birds and landscapes.

Other imitations of oriental lacquer were created in Venice, as the technique known as 'lacca povera' with printed glued vignettes. Interestingly, after the painted decoration was finished, the 'laccatori' used up to eighteen layers of a specific varnish called 'sandracca' which was applied to protect the decoration. With time, this precious varnish turned yellowish, therefore changing our perception of the initial ground colour, which most of the time was originally light blue or turquoise. Ageing 'sandracca' crackled, giving its surface a delicate fine craquelure only visible under close examination, which is a sign of an untouched decorative scheme.

Related Literature
G. Morazzoni, Il Mbile Laccato del Settecento, Vol II, 1958, Milan, tav. CDLXXX a sin.
G. Mariacher, Specchiere Italiane e Cornici da Specchio, dal XV al XIX Secolo, 1963, tav. II.
C. Santini, Le Lacche dei Venziani, 2003, Modena, p. 103, fig. 32.
S. Levy, Lacche Veneziane Settecentesche, Vol. II, tavv. 318-319.
Galleria Silva, Catalogo, No. 4, Settembre 2005, pp.'s 46-47.

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