Neoclassical Brass Psyché Mirror with Dolphin Base, Maison Jansen, French Work, Circa 1940

This stately neoclassical psyché mirror is fashioned in polished brass, its tilting rectangular glass mounted between elegant vertical supports that rest upon a base ornamented with sculpted dolphins — one of the most beloved motifs of the Empire and neoclassical decorative vocabulary. The mirror swings and adjusts to the desired angle, combining practical functionality with an imposing and distinguished decorative presence. The warm gleam of the polished brass and the precision of the casting reflect the exceptional quality of materials and execution that characterises the finest French decorative arts of the period.

The dolphin, symbol of the sea and of royal patronage in France since the Dauphin bore the title of Prince Royal, was enthusiastically adopted in the decorative repertoire of the Empire period and continued to feature prominently in the neoclassical furniture and objects of subsequent decades. Maison Jansen, the legendary Parisian interior design house founded in 1880, was among the most distinguished interpreters of this tradition, producing furniture and objects of exceptional quality that combined authentic historical scholarship with the highest standards of Parisian craftsmanship. A psyché mirror in brass with dolphin supports would have graced the dressing rooms and bedrooms of the most prestigious Jansen interiors.

This psyché mirror would make a magnificent addition to a dressing room, bedroom or entrance hall, its tall, tilting form and golden brass structure providing both a supremely practical accessory and an object of great decorative distinction. An exceptional piece that brings together the most refined traditions of French neoclassical design and the unparalleled prestige of Maison Jansen.