Reproduction?

[sapphire]

hosman, if they could possibly provide you with the museum contact info maybe you would have more success with them as to the history of the chair? Surely if they had it in their possession they would have records describing it in detail along with their estimate of it's age, etc.

[hosman321]

Yeah, I just asked that too. They said Shrewsbury museum. But in England or the US?

[hosman321]

Oh, I give up on her. She's not willing to show anything until it's purchased. Then don't mention that you have a receipt to show! You know, even if the receipt wasn't ever mentioned, I may have bought it. But the fact that she's sort of withholding the receipt and museum information until I buy it is just annoying.

[mariok54]

Hi Hosman,

That Pembroke table is way over-priced, as you've now decided (in fact all their items seem to be excessive). They were charging £35 for delivery within the UK which is quite steep, what would they charge to get it to the US in 5 days via air? Probably more than the cost of the item itself.

[hosman321]

I agree mario. It was a lot of money and shipping was 300-something dollars. I'll find one around here someday, I just really loved that one. 

[mariok54]

Hi Hosman,

Going back to your original subject, mirrors seem to be incredibly hard to date with any accuracy. I bought this mirror at Auction about 8 years ago, as a George III mahogany inlaid mirror (apologies for the photo quality) ... but I've never been sure whether it is early 19th century or a later Victorian revival ..  

That mirror really needs a clean!!

Take a look at some of these .... 


http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8384905

[hosman321]

It's a beautiful mirror either way! I asked my husband for this one after that other one but he very quickly replied, "I don't like it." I'm pretty sure he just didn't like the price, even though I would have offered less. He said he doesn't like the gold. I asked the seller for pictures of the backside but didn't get a reply...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280621809294&ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT#ht_500wt_689

[mariok54]

Thanks Hosman,  I paid c $180 dollars at the time + 15%, so it was quite steep if it's a later Victorian mirror. I can't see why they didn't post a picture of the reverse with all the others ... are they trying to hide something?

[hosman321]

I was wondering the same thing, lots of pics but none of the back. The front looks good and the engraving looks to be from the period, but the back would tell so much more. I wonder if they will ever respond to my email.

[mariok54]

You certainly can ... usually ....  but the general quality of their photographs of the mirror is pretty poor (despite the high price tag of the object!), so you may not be able to tell as much as you'd like. But I still think it odd that they don't post one.
I'm not overly impressed by the portrait of Mademoiselle Contat, but she was on the stage in the latter half of the 18th c ..... and I can't see anyone 30, 40, 50 years later putting her in the picture, so it probably does date from that time.

I couldn't actually handle our mirror before buying it as it was hanging so high up and the auction was already under way.
After posting those last pics I've taken it down to give it a good clean and photographed the rear. I could tell that it had probably been re-silvered during some point in history. It shows a lot of age, but still could not pin it down!   

[hosman321]

Well, it's had 3 previous hooks in it's history. Four sets seems like a lot for something only 100-ish years old. I have a few heavy frames/pictures that are 100 years old and they all still have 1 set of hooks. But I suppose that doesn't say much, yours is probably heavier. What do you all think? Great mirror, I love the design!

[KC]

I am always leery when they can't provide proof of origin/dating information.

I like the mirror and the style.  This was also very popular in the US early 1900's.

Sometimes the shipping costs aren't worth it....better to find one closer to home even if you pay more.  The chance of damage is great coming across the pond.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I'm OK with no proof of age if it is something I feel that I can make a determination of the age myself. But when you start getting into the stuff that is pre-1850, I find it much more difficult to do and if someone makes a claim that something is that old, I really want to know what they are basing that claim on.

[hosman321]

They sent me pics of the back of that french mirror. But I don't really know what the heck to think.
Aw man. I'm on the iPad so I can't attach pictures. Don't have Flash. I'll post them in a few...

[jacon4]

LOL, god almighty, going down this "old" trail again, i know i've said it before but i'll say it again anyway, just because it's old does not mean it is a good or valuable piece. Lets face it, they made junk in the 18th century just like they do today. Evaluating any piece of furniture/ decorative art on the basis of age is really the wrong way to go, in my view.