19th Century North Indian Mughal Repoussé Silver Mirror

A fine 19th-century solid silver Indian Mughal mirror frame, the broad cushion frame profusely worked with repoussé scrolls and ornament, the corners with cast silver mounts fashioned as single acanthus leaves.
India, circa 1850

Height: 116.5 cms (46 ins)
Width: 86 cms (34 ins)

This mid-19th-century Indian mirror is an exceptional piece of silverware, particularly because the frame is made of solid silver. Solid silver ornamentation is rare due to historical factors, such as the melting down and repurposing of silver objects. This makes the mirror frame even more remarkable and valuable.

Repoussé silver is a decorative technique in which silver is shaped and ornamented by hammering from the reverse side to create a raised design in relief. Often combined with fine chasing (detailing from the front), this method allows for intricate patterns, figures, and motifs to emerge with remarkable depth and texture. Popular from antiquity through the 19th century, repoussé was widely used in the creation of silver vessels, caskets, jewellery, and liturgical objects, admired for its ability to transform plain surfaces into richly sculptural works of art.

The mirror stands at a height of 45 3/4 inches (116 cm) and has a width of 33 3/4 inches (86 cm). 

The silver is approximately 11 kg in weight.