An Early 18th Century Louis XV Period Giltwood Mirror

An early 18th century Louis XV Period carved giltwood mirror, the rectangular frame having and arched top with rococo flourishes.

French Rococo, or Rocaille, appeared in Paris during the reign of Louis XV and flourished between about 1723 and 1759. Rocaille was originally a method of decoration, using pebbles, seashells and cement, which was often used to decorate grottoes and fountains from the Renaissance. In the late 17th and early 18th century Rocaille became the term for a kind of decorative motif or ornament that appeared in the form of a seashells interlaced with acanthus leaves. Rococo features exuberant asymmetrical decoration with an abundance of curves, counter-curves, undulations and elements modelled on nature. The style was highly theatrical, designed to impress and awe at first sight.