Pier glass
William Ince & John Mayhew (fl. 1759-99)
Category
Mirrors
Date
circa 1782 - 1783
Materials
Giltwood, glass, mercury tin-amalgam, paint
Measurements
450 x 193 cm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1170735.1.1
Summary
A pier glass, giltwood, one of a pair, attributed to William Ince & John Mayhew (fl. 1759-99), cabinet-makers of London, circa 1782-3, part of a set with a pair of pier tables (NT 1170735.2.1 & .2.2) and part of a larger group of furniture (including NT 1170733.1-.17 [seat furniture] and NT 1170734.1 - .4 [torchères]) supplied for the Saloon at Chirk Castle. The painting to the roundel in the manner of Antonio Zucchi (1726-95). The mirror's cresting centred by a roundel painted with putti in a landscape in a beaded inner, and reeded outer, giltwood surround, and raised on a waisted and scroll-ended support edged with acanthus and centred by a flower medallion. Flanked to either side by a seated vestal, the figures addorsed, both with a hand resting behind them on the medallion’s support and a reeded bowl or lamp in the other. The vestals seated upon an capping rail with fluted and dentil-moulded cornice above a run of five stylised palmettes, spaced by six palmettes with plaited leaves or petals, between compressed scrolled ends. The mirror’s frame formed of an outer egg-and-leaf moulding, a band or chain of husks, and an inner run of pearls.
Full description
Associated with Chirk Castle
Provenance
Amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust. On loan to the Trust from Guy Charles Myddelton. Gifted to Guy C. Myddelton from Captain David Myddelton in 2010. Purchased by the National Trust from Mr Guy Myddelton in 2023.
Makers and roles
William Ince & John Mayhew (fl. 1759-99), cabinetmaker
References
Roberts, H. and Cator, C., Industry and Ingenuity: The Partnership of William Ince and John Mayhew (PWP, London, 2022), pp. 21, 211-213; Figs. 34, 281