Beautiful mid-19th century French Louis XVI style pareclose mirror, having a richly carved giltwood frame featuring a crest formed by a pair of love birds and the twin symbols of Louis XVI - a quiver of arrows crossed with a flambeau, circa 1850s. The flaming torch is an ancient symbol of life, truth and the regenerative power of fire while the quiver of arrows signifies the ability to use force in the pursuit of justice. By using these symbols from the past, Louis XVI was making a conscious choice to ally himself with their powerful meanings. Top corners are topped by flaming urns. Before mirror glass could be made in large sections, small mirrors were joined together by slender frames to increase the amount of reflection available, offering five different reflections known as a "pareclose" after the architectural term. The center mirror is the largest and is surrounded on all four sides with four separate mirror glasses. All original. Mirrors of this scale and grandeur were always used in the public areas of a home where their beauty could be admired by both the residents and their guests.

Dimensions:

h - 66"

w - 42.5"

d - 4"