A George II Parcel Gilt Mahogany Mirror by Thomas Aldersey

London, Circa 1760

with partial maker's label to the reverse that reads Thomas Aldersey/ Looking Glass Maker/ in/ London.
Height 58 1/2 x width 26 1/2 inches.

Note:

Thomas Aldersey was a looking glass maker, glass grinder, cabinet maker and upholsterer based in London and active between 1754 and 1781. Records show him having established a company under his name in 1754, where he employed a chair maker and glass seller.[1] In 1767, the business was listed as 'Thomas Aldersey & James Cawdell' until 1778 when it was renamed to 'Thomas Aldersey & Co.'. Three other mirrors with carved mahogany and gilt frames are known bearing this maker's label, each (including this one) likely pre-dating 1767.[2] A nearly identical mirror is in the Yale University Art Gallery collection (accession number 1962.31.31a-b).[3]

[1] Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert, eds. 'A' in Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, pp. 1-28

[2] Christopher Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, figs. 19-22

[3] David L. Barquist, Elisabeth Donaghy Garrett, and Gerald W. R. Ward, American Tables and Looking Glasses in the Mabel Brady Garvan and Other Collections at Yale University, pp. 308-10, no. 172, illustrated

Slight rubbing to gilt with minor nicks and areas commensurate with age, gilt rosette missing from proper left side of frame detailing, eagle appears to be original to mirror, tilts forward at an angle due to design on verso.

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Corbin Horn

Vice President, Head of Department, European Furniture & Decorative Arts

[email protected]312.334.4214

Mr. Horn joined the firm in 2009 and has directed numerous sales of important collections, including those of Lilly Pulitzer, Lord Anthony and Lady Jacobs, Lars Bolander, Casa de Sueños in Miami Beach, and Villa Massei in Lucca, Italy. He has also achieved record results for consignments from prominent institutions, including the Toledo Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Minnesota Historical Society. Mr. Horn is a member of the Antiquarian Society of the Art Institute of Chicago and is an alumnus of the Attingham Trust.

Nick Coombs

Vice President, Senior Specialist, European Furniture & Decorative Arts

[email protected]312 280 1212

Nick Coombs is a senior specialist in the Furniture & Decorative Arts department and also the Coins, Medals & Banknotes department at Freeman's.
Prior to joining Freeman's in 2014, Mr. Coombs worked for PCGS Currency in Peoria, Illinois, where he was responsible for the grading and authentication of paper money. This enabled him to travel to dozens of coin and currency shows a year and develop a lifelong passion for numismatics. In addition to heading the Coins, Medals & Banknotes department at Freeman's, Mr. Coombs works closely with Furniture & Decorative Arts department and has directed auctions for philatelics, memorabilia, scientific instruments, and fountain pens. He received a BA in art history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master of letters in art and art world practice from the University of Glasgow.

Genevieve King

Associate Specialist, Furniture & Decorative Arts

[email protected]312.447.3280

European Furniture & Decorative Arts

A George II Parcel Gilt Mahogany Mirror by Thomas Aldersey

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