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Looking Glass

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
MEDIUM Mahogany, walnut veneer, spruce, gilt
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
DATES ca.1740–1780
DIMENSIONS 56.5 x 29.5 x 3.25 in. (143.5 x 74.9 x 8.3 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 1997.150.23
CREDIT LINE Matthew Scott Sloan Collection, Gift of Lidie Lane Sloan McBurney
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Chippendale style looking glass. Overall irregular rectangular shape with gilt and scrolled edges. Crest: pediment-shaped crest with edge outlined by carved and gilded foliage and flames; finial is gilded urn with blossoms and foliage. Sides: gilded egg-and-dart molding on edge outlined with gilded pendant foliage. Base: gilded foliate c-scrolls at outer edge of base; sprays of folliage curve up at jointures of c-scrolls; some slightly asymmetrical flame-like carving below c-scrolls. Beveled sight edge is shaped by series of gilded s-scrolls; all four corners of sight edge carved with flame-like decoration. Plain unleveled glass. Gilding: some ornament is water gilded with gesso ground and layers of bole in various colors (red, blue, pink, yellow, or white); some ornament might be oil gilded. Some cracks in veneer and applied ornament; some missing and retouched gilding; flower missing from pendant foliage on left; lower portion of pendant foliage missing on both sides; glass not original. CONDITION: Ornament and molding separated from substrate; cracks in applied ornament; cracks in veneer. Flower missing from pendant foliage on left; lower portion of pendant foliage missing on both sides. Some missing gilding; missing gilding retouched in places. Glass not original.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
CAPTION Looking Glass, ca.1740–1780. Mahogany, walnut veneer, spruce, gilt, 56.5 x 29.5 x 3.25 in. (143.5 x 74.9 x 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Matthew Scott Sloan Collection, Gift of Lidie Lane Sloan McBurney, 1997.150.23. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1997.150.23_transp696.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 1997.150.23_transp696.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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