Quillwork Looking Glass

CultureEnglish
Titles
  • Quillwork Looking Glass
Datec. 1690–1720
Made inEngland
MediumPine, gilding, glass, and quillwork
Dimensions29 1/2 × 25 1/2 in. (74.9 × 64.8 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg
Object numberB.63.72
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Pine Room
On view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
DescriptionThe intricate decorations surrounding the actual mirror of this object are quillwork, the term used to describe elaborate assemblies of twisted and curled strips of paper used to embellish objects such as boxes, tea caddies, wall sconces, and pictures.  Women of higher social status in England and America did such work during the colonial era and into the 1800s.
Provenance[John S. Walton, New York]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, April 29, 1963; given to MFAH, by 1966.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Looking Glass
c. 1800–1815
Pine, gilding, reverse-painted glass, and mirror glass
B.76.138
scan from file photograph
c. 1770
Walnut veneer; white pine, gilding, glass
B.76.236
scan from file photograph
c. 1785–1820
Gilded sylvestris pine and eastern white pine; composition and mirror glass
B.69.381
Writing Table and Bookcase
c. 1825–1835
Mahogany and mahogany veneer; eastern white pine, yellow-poplar, gilding, glass, and gilt-bronze mounts
B.82.4
Looking Glass
c. 1785–1815
Mahogany and mahogany veneer; white pine, composition, gold leaf, iron, and mirrored glass
B.2008.14
scan from file photograph
c. 1745–1770
Mahogany; mahogany veneer, coniferous wood pine, spruce or fir, composition, gold leaf, and mirrored glass
B.59.34
scan from file photograph
c. 1780–1800
White pine, maple, and reverse-painted glass
B.67.33
Looking Glass
c. 1730–1760
Eastern white pine; jappaned decoration, mirrored glass
B.2001.5
Looking Glass
Thomas Natt
c. 1835
Eastern white pine; composition, gold leaf, and mirrored glass
B.68.26
Looking Glass
Charles del Vecchio
c. 1830–1837
Mahogany and cherry; eastern white pine, soft maple, brass, and mirror glass
B.90.16
Looking Glass
c. 1785–1820
Gilded spruce; eastern white pine, sylvestris pine, and composition
B.21.2
Looking Glass (one of a pair)
c. 1785–1820
Gilded eastern white pine; composition
B.69.386.2