Important South African Paintings, Furniture, Silver and Ceramics

Live Auction, 11 October 2010

Session One

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Lot 18
Lot 19
Lot 20
  • A pair of Chinese reverse painted mirrors, late 18th/early 19th century
  • A pair of Chinese reverse painted mirrors, late 18th/early 19th century
  • A pair of Chinese reverse painted mirrors, late 18th/early 19th century
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Lot Estimate
ZAR 100 000 - 120 000

About this Item

A pair of Chinese reverse painted mirrors, late 18th/early 19th century
rectangular, one depicting a pair of birds before flowers, the other a golden pheasant standing on a rocky outcrop issuing peonies and foliage, observed by another bird perched on a magnolia branch, each in George III style carved giltwood frames surmounted by a feng hu bird, with trailing foliage to the sides, the aprons with c-scrolls, some restoration and re-gilding, 120cm high, 83cm wide
(2)

Literature

"During the 18th century Canton was the centre for mirror painting of this genre, although the plates themslves were of French manufacture supplied through the agency of the Compagnie des Indes.  The introduction of the technique of painting on imported glass in China is often accredited to the Jesuit missionary, Father Castiglione (1688-1766), who arrived in Peking in 1715, although the technique of 'back' or 'reverse' painting was already well-known in Europe.  The mirror or glass plates were most often imported from the West where the artist would exactingly remove the mercury backing in the areas to be decorated and then paint his design in reverse.  Once completed and having already survived a perilous journey the mirrors, now even more highly prized, were returned to Europe."

Graham Child, World Mirrors, 1990, pp 361- 386

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