French (?) Mirror

     I've wanted an antique European, wooden gilt mirror ever since visiting the little antique malls outside of Aix on the N7.   Besides being outrageously expensive (1000 to 1500 Euros), they were too big to get in a suitcase.   Getting one wasn't even an option.   Then I accidently came across one on German eBay several weeks ago.  This one was even better than those at the antique malls in Provence and even more elaborate.  Over-the-top actually.   Just perfect for my little powder room.  I had just bought all those soliders and monkeys, and I thought I'd better pass.  But Eileen was the little devil in my ear telling me to go for it, so I did.   Of course, I can't make purchases like this work without my daughter's American friend living on base in Germany.   I had the mirror sent to her (as I do all my German eBay purchases), and she sent it to me via the American Base post office.   Just a week later it arrived at my door, in perfect shape and more wonderful than I could have ever imagined!

It looks wonderful flanked by my antique pair of French wall scones on either side.  It took a little bit of work from my friend who is an electrical engineer to get the wall sconces up and running.  Since they are such low wattage, it was determined that it was safe to use the existing European wiring.  All that was needed were little screw-in adapters from an antique lighting shop so I could use American lightbulbs.

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The top piece of the mirror is highly carved with an inset of a small oil painting of cherubs.   As to country of origin on this piece, I can't be sure.  I asked Maria, who is a wonderful scholar of history, about what country it's from -- France, or Italy perhaps?  She said it could be either or even Germany as well, but "I think these were not typical of a country, but of an era."  Perfect answer! 

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