Antique Gilded Mirror | Carvings and Ebonized Black

• Structurally inspected
• Adjusted and reinforced where necessary
• Furniture ready for use

An entrance tells you who lives in a house before anyone speaks. What hangs on the wall, the light it reflects, the scale of things.

This mirror was made in the first half of the 20th century, when gold leaf was still gilded by hand and wood was ebonized so that the gold had something to shine against. A frame designed to outlast whoever hung it.

The frame alternates gold-leafed carvings with ebonized black panels. In the volutes, where the gold has worn away over the years, the red bole underneath peeks through: the clay base on which authentic gold leaf is laid, which no modern imitation reproduces. The corners are topped with carved cartouches.

It measures 172 cm high by 96 cm wide. Almost a full-length format. It can be hung in a hallway, leaned against the wall in a bedroom, or preside over a living room above a console. Wherever it goes, it commands the entire wall around it.

No two are alike. There will be no restocking.

── WHAT WE LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS PIECE ──

→ The gold leaf gilding on red bole. The gold sits on a red clay base called bole. When it wears, that warm red appears underneath and adds depth. It is the signature of true gilding: an industrial finish scratches and shows white plaster or plastic; this shows the craftsmanship underneath.

→ The contrast of gold and black. The ebonized panels between the carvings are not there by chance: black makes gold appear more golden. A classic marquetry technique that almost no one takes the time to apply today.

→ The scale. At 172 cm, it works as a full-length mirror without being entirely so. It can be hung or leaned. It reflects light and doubles the background of small rooms.

── RESTORED IN OUR WORKSHOP IN NAVALCARNERO, MADRID ──

We received the frame with the natural wear and tear of its age. We consolidated the gilded areas that had lost their grip, fixed the carvings that had shifted, and reinforced the frame joints and the mirror's support. We respected the patina of the gold: what time has already perfected is not re-gilded.

The structure is firm, the mirror is securely attached, and the hanging system has been checked for its weight. The gold retains its uneven shine, which is precisely what is sought in such a piece. It arrives ready to take its place.

A piece selected and restored by Antique Arte y Decoración — specializing in antique furniture since 2015, with its own workshop in Navalcarnero and over 3,500 families throughout Spain.

Style: Baroque-inspired, in gold and black
Material: Carved wood, gold leaf and ebonized
Technique: Relief carving, gold leaf on red bole, and ebonized panels
Finish: Gold leaf with original patina and ebonized black
Hardware: Hanging system revised for the weight of the piece
Layout: Rectangular wall mirror, vertical format
Dimensions: 96 cm (Width) × 4.5 cm (Depth) × 172 cm (Height)
Condition: Restored, with the original gold patina preserved
Period: First half of the 20th century

96 cm (Width) × 4.5 cm (Depth) × 172 cm (Height)

Free shipping to mainland Spain. Includes indoor delivery with packaging removal.