Description
An Irish 18th century giltwood mirror by John and Francis Booker, Essex Bridge, Dublin, the egg and dart moulded triangular divided pediment with a central acanthus carved urn above a fluted frieze and an elaborate carved central panel, with replaced mirror plates, surrounded by two rectangular carved bands flanked by fluted columns with corinthian capitals above a mirrored plate with fish scale carved corbels.With a fragment of an original label on the reverse.
Note: The carved panel is a later restoration.
Irish, circa 1750
Height: 68 in; (173 cm)
Width: 43 1/2 in; (110.5 cm)
Provenance:
With Phillips & Harris, London circa, 1970
The Knight of Glin, Glin Castle, Glin, County Limerick
Literature:
The Knight of Glin, 'A Family of Looking-Glass Merchants', Country Life, 28th January 1971, P.195-199.
The Knight of Glin and James Peil, Irish Furniture: Woodwork and Carving in Ireland from the Earliest times to the Act of Union, New Haven and London, 2007 Illustrated P.141 (fig.190), P.142 (fig.192) and P.144 (fig.194) for similar mirrors.
This grand Palladian pier glass was made by the celebrated 'Looking Glass Merchants','glass-grinders and 'glass sellers', Francis and John Booker. It bears the remains of the brother's label on the reverse with their names neatly framed by rococo border. It must date from soon after their father's death (John Booker died in 1750) as its ornament shows no hint of the rococo flourishes that adorn their later work.The extent of their wares is revealed in the beautiful trade card sold at Christies, Glin Castle, A Knight In Ireland, Thursday 7th of May 2009, (Lot 52) which incorporates a delicate rococo border interspersed with illustrations and a long detailed list.The two brothers are listed in premises in Essex Bridge, Dublin which is where their father is recorded from 1715. Francis Booker rose to become Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1772 and died later that year, leaving the business to be carried on by his brother John Booker, who was also a carver and gilder, continued the shop in Essex Bridge until 1786 when he moved to Jervis Street. Three years later he was also dead, and the experience of two generations of looking-glass sellers died with him.
The architectural composition of this mirror is very close in form to designs by William Jones in his The Gentleman's or Builders Companion containing a variety of useful designs for doors, gateways, peers, pavilions, temples, chimney-pieces, slab tables, pier glasses, or tabernacle frames, ceiling pieces,etc., and a comparison between cat 190 and cat 194 'A mirror frame' (cat 193) in this book which came out in 1739 proves the point.1739 (see Irish Furniture, P. 143, Cat 193). It is significant to note that Jone's book was imported into Dublin in the same year and was sold by Robert Owen in Skinners Row for 12s'. We can easily imagine a well worn copy at 6 Essex Bridge. Although they seldom appear on the market, this pier glass belongs to a documented group by the Booker brothers. A pair formerly at Charleville, Enniskerry, County Wicklow, One from Piperstown House, Fieldstown, Monsterboice, Drogheda, County Louth, and a pair from Birr Castle, Birr County Offaly, and one in the collection of the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava,amongst others discussed in Irish Furniture.
Rory Rogers +353 (0)87 221 3741
John Carroll +44 (0)7802 345 529
Email: info@rogersandcarroll.com
AN IRISH GEORGE II GILTWOOD MIRRROR BY JOHN AND FRANCIS BOOKER, ESSEX BRIDGE, DUBLIN
(Rollover image above for magnification)
