Neoclassical Brass Psyché Mirror in the Style of Maison Jansen — French Work, Circa 1970
A magnificent full-length pivoting psyché mirror in polished brass, with fluted columns topped by artichoke finials, scrolled pivot brackets, and an elaborate cast brass rocaille crest. French work in the style of Maison Jansen, circa 1970. 52 × 43.5 × 156 cm.
PRODUCT DETAILS
| Dimensions en CM | 52 x 43.5 x 156 cm |
|---|---|
| Dimensions en INCH | 20.47 x 17.13 x 61.42 inch |
| Période | 1970–1980 |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Matériaux | Brass |
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This magnificent full-length psyché mirror is an outstanding example of the neoclassical decorative vocabulary as interpreted by French craftsmen in the early 1970s. The psyché — a pivoting, free-standing mirror that allows the user to view their full reflection and adjust the angle at will — was one of the great luxury furnishings of the early 19th century, and its revival in the post-war decades produced some of the most accomplished pieces in the French decorative arts of the period. This example, executed throughout in polished brass in the style of the celebrated Maison Jansen, is among the most refined of the type.
The structure is composed of two vertical columns in fluted brass — a motif drawn directly from the neoclassical vocabulary of the Louis XVI and Directoire periods. Each column is topped by a large, elaborately cast brass finial in the form of an artichoke or pine cone, its repoussé surface worked with concentric scales that catch the light and give the finials an almost sculptural presence at the extremities of the piece. Between the columns, the arched mirror plate is suspended on pivoting ring-form brackets adorned with small scrolled ornamental elements — allowing smooth adjustment of the mirror's angle to any desired inclination.
The crowning glory of the piece is the cast brass crest that surmounts the arch of the mirror plate: a full-blown rocaille composition with scrolling acanthus leaves, shells, and foliate ornament of high quality and considerable visual complexity. This type of elaborate cresting is a direct reference to the finest French cabinet-making of the Louis XV and Régence periods, and its presence here on a functional standing mirror elevates the object from furniture to decorative sculpture.
At 52 centimetres in width, 43.5 centimetres in depth, and a full 156 centimetres in height, this psyché is a major presence in any room. It is suited to a master bedroom, a dressing room, or any reception space of sufficient scale to accommodate a free-standing mirror of this quality and ambition.
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