US$870.32 This is a lovely and very decorative Italian Rococo style giltwood mirror. It is masterfully crafted in hand carved giltwood and there is no mistaking its unique quality and design, which is certain to make it a treasure in your home. This mirror epitomizes the Rococo style with its elaborate floral decoration and it's elegant rectangular shape is sure to make it hang proud on your wall. The asymmetric design of entwined flowers and leaves with a shield and scalloped shell add to its appeal as a unique furniture piece. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 150 x Width 79 - Frame Dimensions in inches: Height 4 feet, 11 inches x Width 2 feet, 7 inches - Frame Mirrors are commonly used for personal grooming or admiring oneself (in which case the archaic term looking-glass is sometimes still used), decoration, and architecture. The earliest manufactured mirrors were pieces of polished stone such as obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass. In classical antiquity, mirrors were made of solid metal (bronze, later silver) and were too expensive for widespread use by common people; they were also prone to corrosion. Due to the low reflectivity of polished metal, these mirrors also gave a darker image than modern ones, making them unsuitable for indoor use with the artificial lighting of the time. The method of making mirrors out of plate glass was invented by 16th-century Venetian glassmakers on the island of Murano, who covered the back of the glass with mercury, obtaining near-perfect and undistorted reflection. For over one hundred years, Venetian mirrors installed in richly decorated frames served as luxury decorations for palaces throughout Europe, but the secret of the mercury process eventually arrived in London and Paris during the 17th century, due to industrial...