French Water Gilt Mirror by Arsène Rochette of Versailles

Super quality and in great condition French Louis XVI style water gilt mirror with its original mercury mirror glass, circa 1870 by the highly regarded maker Arsène Rochette of Versailles, France. Stamped to the rear of the frame and backing boards. Typical of such a quality maker, this gilt mirror is beautifully decorated throughout, from the fluted columns with Corinthian cappings and urns, the exquisite central scrolled cartouchè with the laurel leaves and garlands of flowers. Being finished with further laurel leaves to the base rail of the mirror, this suggests it was originally intended to be a free hanging mirror above a console table, rather than an overmantle which would have a simple and plain base rail. But no worries if you do want to hang this an an overmantle mirror obviously! The mirror has retained so much of its original water gilding, it gives you a wonderful mellowed yellow gold finish, rather than a lesser quality harsh amber gold. A very decorative and very beautiful original antique French water gilt mirror by a highly regarded maker of the time.