Mirror

Unknown Artist

17th century

Mirror by Unknown Artist

Medium

Silver

Dimensions

Overall: 3 1/2 × 2 3/4 in. (8.9 × 7 cm)

Classification

Costume Accessories

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness, 1930

Accession Number

30.135.89

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 17th-century French silver mirror, measuring just 3½ × 2¾ inches, is a delicate costume accessory designed for personal portability—likely tucked into a pocket or reticule by fashionable aristocrats of the Baroque era. Crafted from gleaming silver, its surface is adorned with intricate motifs of flowers and leaves, showcasing the era's mastery of repoussé or chased techniques that brought organic elegance to everyday luxury items. Such mirrors were not mere tools for grooming but status symbols, reflecting the opulence of Louis XIV's court where even the smallest objects exuded ...

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