Georgian Mirror

A George III giltwood and carton pierre mirror, dating to c.1770, has been successfully acquired for The Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood. It was lent to the collection for the reopening of the house in November 2013 and subsequently offered for sale.

The neoclassical fluted frame is surrounded by a fine example of carton pierre ornamentation of scrolling foliage and chains of husks. Carton pierre is made of paper pulp with whiting and glue and is cast in moulds to make ornamentation which is stronger and lighter than plaster-of-Paris.

This beautiful mirror was made by a leading London maker of the period, as yet unidentified, and its style is in keeping with the eighteenth century furniture collections presented at Kenwood. The mirror can be seen in Lord Mansfield’s Dressing Room on the south front ground floor. When Lord Mansfield (1705-93), the Lord Chief Justice of England, lived in the house he used this room as a dressing room and study. The room is currently hung densely with paintings, including by Reynolds and Gainsborough, and the mirror is a handsome addition on the pier wall. This mirror was previously sold by Sotheby’s in 1969 as part of Viscount Kemsley’s collection from Dropmore Park, Burnham, Buckinghamshire. Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley (1883-1968) was a newspaper publisher, co-owning the firm that included The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times.

The purchase of this mirror from Michael Hughes Limited, London was made possible by donations of £5,000 from the Friends of Kenwood and £29,000 from the English Heritage Foundation.