Square Raffia Mirror with Glazed Ceramic Roundel Surround

A square mirror of considerable decorative refinement, in which a circular glass is set into a flat board of woven raffia and surrounded by a ring of individually crafted glazed ceramic roundels. The discs — arranged with even spacing around the full circumference of the mirror glass — are glazed in a warm palette of olive green, amber, golden ochre and deep earthy tones, their slight variation in colour and texture contributing to the organic, handmade character of the composition. Against the natural beige of the woven raffia ground, the ceramic colours glow with a quietly jewel-like intensity.

The combination of woven vegetable fibre and hand-glazed ceramic is characteristic of French decorative design in the years around 1950, when craftspeople working in the Mediterranean tradition drew on the materials of the southern French landscape — reed, raffia, clay and mineral glazes — to produce domestic objects of unpretentious warmth and charm. The format here — a square panel with a circular mirror at its centre and a decorative ring of ceramic accents — is a particularly successful example of the type, the geometry of the composition giving it a structured calm that sets off the informal richness of the materials.

The overall piece is remarkably flat — a depth of just 1 centimetre — meaning it sits flush against the wall with minimal projection. At 30.5 centimetres square, it is a compact piece suited to small spaces, dressing tables or intimate corners where an object of decorative character is sought without imposing a large scale.

In good condition, the raffia intact and the ceramic roundels present and undamaged. Overall dimensions: 30.5 cm wide by 30.5 cm tall, 1 cm deep. A charming and collectible example of mid-century French artisanal design, evoking the material warmth of the Mediterranean decorative tradition.