An exceptionally fine and rare mid 18th century George III period mirror attributed to Thomas Johnson

Provenance

Wanstead House, Essex the seat of William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley, 4th Earl of Mornington, nephew of the Duke of Wellington, obtained by marriage to Catherine Tylney-Long. The magnificent house designed by Colen Campbell in 1715 cost £360,000 to build, its south front measuring 260 feet. The Earl’s profligate lifestyle led to the sale of the contents in 1822 and the house being sold in 1823 for only £10,000: the materials of the house being cleared by Lady Day in 1825.

Literature

A catalogue of the magnificent and costly furniture of the princely mansion Wanstead House: June 1822, pp.139, Lot 8. An identical mirror is illustrated in English Looking-Glasses by Geoffrey Wills, published by Country Life Ltd. 1965, p.90, pl.68.

Description / Expertise

The giltwood mirror-bordered pier-glass represents an allegory of the hunt, the branch and leaf encrusted frame is surmounted on either side by nymph-heads wearing the crescent moon symbol of Diana, the hunter goddess, centred by a bow and quiver of arrows, suspended above is a hare and game birds, the base with a central leaf cartouche with Diana’s hounds emerging on either side.