Mirror

Art Historical Context

This stunning mirror, crafted around 1690 by Thomas and René Pelletier, exemplifies the opulent woodwork of late 17th-century Britain. Standing nearly 77 inches tall and 31 inches wide, its gilded wood frame and verre églomisé glass panel create a dramatic, vertical pier mirror ideal for grand interiors. Attributed to the Pelletiers—likely a father-son duo of skilled craftsmen—this piece reflects the era's fusion of furniture and decoration, now housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, thanks to a 1964 gift from Irwin Untermyer. The medium is particularly noteworthy: verre églomisé involves painting intricate designs or applying gold leaf to the reverse side of glass, viewed through the clear front for a shimmering, jewel-like depth. Combined with lavish gilding on the carved wooden frame, it showcases advanced techniques that made mirrors luxury status symbols, as sheet glass was costly and labor-intensive to produce before industrial methods. In the William and Mary period, such mirrors adorned fashionable homes, symbolizing wealth and enlightenment amid England's growing prosperity. This British masterpiece highlights the era's love for bold, architectural ornamentation, inviting visitors to imagine it reflecting candlelit salons filled with silk-clad aristocrats.

About the Artist

Thomas Pelletier|René Pelletier (French|French) · 1650 |1650 –1750 |1750

active ca. 1680s–1727|active ca. 1688–1726