Antique Empire Ogee Mirror With Hand Painted Scene Depicting Changing of Seasons

Description

Bay Colony Antiques is proud to offer for sale this fantastic & unique 19th century antique mahogany empire ogee mirror. … more Bay Colony Antiques is proud to offer for sale this fantastic & unique 19th century antique mahogany empire ogee mirror. Its larger than average size and excellent condition are complemented by a beautifully detailed, hand-painted scene on the frame & mirror glass, portraying the passage of time through contrasting seasonal landscapes. The mirror's left side depicts a vibrant summer day with lilies in full bloom, cattails, a cascading waterfall, and a clear blue sky. The mirror's right side shows a tranquil winter night, complete with a luminous full moon hanging above a barren tree in front of a stone bridge, with snow covering the ground. The natural progression of time is further emphasized with the life cycle of the lilies at the bottom of the mirror. The lilies at the bottom & a bit of each side continue onto the mirrored glass. At the top center of the glass there’s an American Robin which has always carried a deep symbolism in art, oftentimes for the coming of spring, renewal, good will, and sometimes as a religious symbol.

The mirror is signed on the back in pencil reading “Painted by Mary Gervin Harlow daughter of Jacob Gervin." The mirror was then passed down to Shirley Call Knofla, Mary's great-niece. A quick census search showed the families had roots in Saratoga County, and Shirley’s obituary recounts her fondness of spending time in the Adirondack mountains where she grew up. The scene most likely was set in the Adirondack or Catskills mountains and was likely influenced by the Hudson River School artist that were creating breathtaking landscape paintings of the area. The mirror measures 23 1/2” wide x 33 1/2” tall. The sight size of the glass is 13 1/2” wide x 23 1/2” tall. This is truly a special & singular mixed media object that we're excited to offer to our collectors around the country. less