Mirror from the Louis Philippe period in France. This piece has a wooden and stuccoed frame that juxtapose 23 carat gold leaf inside trim and black molding that has been finished with a lustrous French polish. The frame also features the classic Louis Philippe upper curved corners. This mirror is in very nice antique condition with only minor surface wear consistent with age and use. The photos accurately depict the condition.

The Louis Philippe period refers to the time in France when Charles X was overthrown in 1830 and Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans, became France’s new leader. He managed both royalists to his right and radicals to the left, while sympathizing with the bourgeois class. Louis Philippe period furniture maintained the simple, rounded lines of the Restoration, but with less ornamentation. The function of furniture was of prime importance. Walnut and mahogany were the predominant woods. Tables and commodes often had marble tops. A characteristic trait of case pieces in the Louis Philippe style is the “doucine“ (soft curve).  At the top of buffets, chests, armoires and secretaries a slight curvature is often seen, lending softness to the otherwise straight lines common of the period.