Bonhams 1793 : A large 19th century Dieppe ivory mirror decorated with the Belgian royal crest

the oval bevelled plate within an ornately carved frame, decorated throughout with individually applied ivory leaves, and applied with numerous musical putti (one carved in bone rather than ivory), with a pair of crowned shields with the initials CV, above a similar pair of shields enclosing fleur de lys, the crest decorated with the Belgian coat of arms, designed as a pair of shields, one with lion rampant, the other with lion rampant and waves, flanked by a pair of dolphins, above a banner inscribed BELGICAE, the whole surmounted by a helmet with visor and numerous flags, with two similar shields to either side and a pair of eagles below, some elements carved in bone, 140cm high x 85cm wide

Sold for £11,250 inc. premium

Footnotes

Provenance and Reputed Provenance:

Major George A Chapman (18501924) acquired the mirror from a Bath antiques shop circa 1892, as a wedding present for his wife to be, Amy Parker Jervis (1867-1906). Their marriage took place on 28th April 1892. The mirror was kept in their home at Tremlett Hall, Greenham, near Wellington, Somerset, and has subsequently been passed down through the generations of the Chapman family, who are the present vendors.

When Major Chapman purchased the mirror in Bath in 1892, he was told about its history and how it came to be there. The mirror was reputed to be one of many wedding presents given by the people of Belgium to Princess Charlotte ("Carlota") Victoire (shortened version of full name) of Belgium (18401927) on the occasion of her marriage (1857) to Archduke Maximilian of Austria. (Hence the initials CV inscribed on the mirror). Carlota was the daughter of King Leopold I of Belgium and Princess Louise of Orleans (daughter of King Louis Philippe of France). In 1864 Archduke Maximilian became Emperor Maximilian of Mexico. He was subsequently overthrown during the Mexican Revolution and executed in 1867. Although many personal possessions were destroyed during the Revolution, the mirror apparently survived. Carlota (now Empress of Mexico) returned to Europe circa 1866 in an endeavour to raise funds for her husband's cause. The mirror was sold, and subsequently fell into the ownership of a large country estate in Bath, England, and from there had been acquired by the antique shop.

Category: Decorative Arts / European Sculpture and Works of Art

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