A Very Fine Empire Cheval Mirror or ‘Psyche’

Description

A Very Fine Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mounted Mahogany Cheval Mirror or ‘Psyche’.

This fine Empire style mahogany cheval mirror or ‘Psyche’ is of exceptional quality, with finely cast gilt-bronze mounts and striking patinated bronze female busts. The arched mirror plate is set within a mahogany frame with gilt-bronze foliate devices and a mask of Apollo. Above is a rectangular frieze surmounted by a triangular pediment centred by an applied gilt-bronze mount of a Roman Warrior in profile. The pediment is flanked by square section supports, headed by finely modelled, patianted bronze, classical female busts. The uprights are further embellished with gilt-bronze mounts of torches en flambeau with entwined snakes and terminate in patianted bronze feet put down on scroll supports.

This type of cheval mirror was sometimes referred to in France as a ‘psyché’, named for the heroine in La Fontaine’s ‘Les amours de Psyché’, who was reputed to have looked at a full-length reflection of herself.