Regency Irish Rococo Giltwood Mirror Attributed to Jackson of Dublin
Stock No: 891/KX301
£26,500.00
In-stock
Country: Ireland
Date: Circa 1800 - 1827
Medium: Giltwood
Dimensions
Height: 134cm (52.76 inches)
Width: 98cm (38.58 inches)
Depth: 10cm (3.94 inches)
Main description
This Regency Irish Rococo giltwood mirror, attributed to Jackson of Dublin, dates to circa 1800-1827 and is of grand scale, combining richly carved Rococo ornament with strong Chinoiserie influence and elements associated with the Chippendale taste.
The upper section is centred by a stiff leaf carved sunburst above a richly carved pagoda. Its concave interior is decorated with miniature C-scrolls beneath a criss-cross ceiling, with brickwork columns rising above stylised waterfalls. A carved Chinese gentleman in traditional eighteenth-century dress is standing on a rocky outcrop beneath the pagoda.
The pagoda is set within an elaborate Chinoiserie superstructure of sweeping C-scrolls and upright capitals supporting shaped shoulders. Further carved waterfalls descend through the composition, while the outer frame is decorated with flowering vines and European windmills positioned on broad rocky outcrops. Varying sizes of C-scrolls continue down either side and flank the apron, where shallow stiff leaf carving and cabriole scrolls echo the decoration of the upper section.
The inner frame is defined by crisply carved brickwork upright capitals and thumbnail mouldings, bordered by an etched rope twist moulding surrounding the original mercury mirror plate.
The attribution to Jackson of Dublin, operating from The Looking Glass Warehouse at No. 5 Essex Bridge, is supported by comparison with a documented George III Irish pier mirror carrying the firm’s original paper trade label. The lower frame and side uprights of that mirror share the same distinctive architectural windmill corner blocks, scrolling apron and trailing foliate treatment seen on this example.
While the documented comparison mirror is surmounted by a ho-ho bird, this mirror uses a Chinoiserie figure beneath an architectural cresting. The corresponding lower structure and side decoration provide strong evidence that both designs originated from the same workshop and pattern vocabulary, with differing crestings used across related models.
The unusual inclusion of architectural windmills within the Rococo and Chinoiserie carving is a particularly distinctive feature. Closely related details appear on the labelled Jackson mirror from the Alec Cobbe Collection, documented by Jane Beattie Art Advisory, providing the principal basis for the attribution to Jackson of Dublin.
Unlike English pattern books of the mid-18th century, such as Thomas Chippendale’s Director, which favoured traditional Asian pagodas and pavilions, Dublin carvers uniquely incorporated European vernacular structures including windmills, watermills, and rustic towers into their Chinoiserie and Rococo designs (for a full study on Dublin carvers operating around Essex Bridge, see The Knight of Glin & James Peill, Irish Furniture, Yale University Press)
View the complete Freshfords Mirror collection.
Condition
Excellent with original mirror plate, refreshed with water gilding and has had the figure reinstated to the pagoda.
Provenance
The accompanying H. W. Keil Ltd advertisement provides an interesting record of the mirror’s earlier history within the antiques trade. Although described there as eighteenth century, subsequent research and comparison with documented Irish examples now support an early nineteenth-century date of circa 1800-1827.
Photo matched to the H. W. Keil Ltd Advertisement.
Literature
The Knight of Glin & James Peill, Irish Furniture, Yale University Press
Who was Jackson of Dublin?
Jackson of Dublin represents one of Ireland’s most distinguished late 18th and early 19th-century dynasties of carvers, gilders, and mirror manufacturers. Founded circa 1740 by Thomas Jackson at No. 5 Essex Bridge, Dublin, the business operated out of the famous “Looking Glass Warehouse” for nearly nine decades before closing circa 1827 under the direction of his sons, James and Richard Jackson. The workshop earned widespread renown for its modular manufacturing approach, using standardised timber moulds and cast details to assemble high-quality pier glasses, overmantel mirrors, and girandoles featuring client-customised crestings. Their production frequently blended classic George III, Regency, and Rococo Revival styles with idiosyncratic Irish decorative motifs, such as rare architectural windmills, ho-ho birds, and Chinoiserie figures. Renowned for regularly affixing engraved paper trade labels to their pine backboards, Jackson of Dublin supplied major country house commissions, including Aldborough House, and employed leading craftsmen such as Arthur Williams, securing an enduring reputation as a cornerstone of fine Irish furniture history.
For further information see our Makers and Retailers profile on Jackson.
What is the Regency Period?
The Regency period (1811-1820) formed the closing years of the Georgian era and was defined by refined classical design inspired by ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Furniture from the period often features bold veneers, clean architectural lines and restrained decorative details in brass, ebony and gilt bronze.
For further information, see our Antique Furniture Periods encyclopaedia on the Georgian Period.
Why Buy From Freshfords Antiques?
Established in 1987, Freshfords Antiques has spent nearly four decades sourcing and curating the finest examples of English antique furniture. Our reputation is built upon a deep-rooted specialism in the Georgian and Regency periods, where we focus on selecting pieces that retain their genuine age, original patination, and unimpeachable authenticity. We believe that an antique should not only be a significant historical object but also a functional and beautiful addition to a contemporary home.
As proud members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA), we operate under a rigorously enforced code of conduct that prioritises professional integrity and expertise. Membership of BADA is only granted after a thorough election procedure and is subject to annual review, ensuring that our clients can purchase with complete confidence. When you acquire a piece from Freshfords, you are benefiting from a wealth of experience, a dedication to craftsmanship, and a commitment to preserving the heritage of the finest English cabinet making.
