A George II carved giltwood and gesso mirror, circa 1735

the bevelled plate re-silvered, re-gilt

Possibly supplied to William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland (1709–1762) and later painted with William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland's (1738–1809) arms;
Thence by descent

This mirror is in good conserved condition. It has been re-gilt & gessoed and re-silvered. There are minor losses to the gilding, most notably to the apron and to the egg-and-dart top and bottom borders, visible from the catalogue photograph. There is movement to construction, notably to the upper left corner of the frame. This piece is ready to be placed and of lovely quality.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The architectural form and baroque detailing of the present mirror relates closely to early designs for 'tabernacle' frames promoted in a host of design books during the 1730s, issued by luminaries like Isaac Ware, William Jones, Batty Langley, Edward Hoppus and Abraham Swan amongst others. Deriving from the niches in that peppered classical temples, such as the Pantheon in Rome, the neo-Palladian 'tabernacle' mirror cunningly replaced the statue of a deity with the onlooker. The design of this mirror is distinctive in that it bears the arms of William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, who took the Cavendish name after marrying Lady Dorothy Cavendish in 1766, though this decoration has been refreshed at a later date.