Wall mirror; Based on designs by Maison Jansen, 1970s

Wall mirror; Based on designs by MAISON JANSEN, 1970s.
Brass.
Lighted.
Measurements: 85 x 62 cm.

A wall mirror with a beveled round shape that serves as its frame, featuring a cluster of spires in the lower left corner and climbing up the left side. Rising from a mass of patinated metal leaves—with a serrated edge and a dark finish—are brass stems that end in amber-colored glass spikes with maroon gradients, and a bamboo-shaped slat runs along the bottom. The piece, asymmetrical and highly sculptural, functions both as a mirror and as a small botanical sculpture, and as the leaves and stems are reflected in the moon, they appear to multiply.

This type of piece belongs to the great tradition of Parisian decorative houses—workshops and firms that for decades devoted themselves to producing luxury interior objects, from lamps and mirrors to tables and consoles. Some, such as Maison Baguès, trace their roots to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when lighting and decorative bronzes were a thriving industry. Others, such as Maison Jansen or Maison Charles, reached the height of their prominence in the mid-20th century—and especially in the 1960s and 1970s—when their production was geared toward a cosmopolitan clientele furnishing apartments in Paris, Monte Carlo, or New York with pieces evoking a Hollywood atmosphere.

During that era, stylized nature became one of the favorite motifs of the so-called “Hollywood Regency” style and of luxury French interior design; palm trees, bamboo stalks, ferns, reeds, and cattails, crafted from brass, gilded bronze, or patinated metal, often combined with glass, rock crystal, or travertine. The technique of cutting and soldering metal sheets one by one, and imitating bamboo with brass tubes, resulted in handcrafted pieces that, although mass-produced, maintain a high standard of craftsmanship.

Today, these pieces are enjoying renewed interest among interior designers and decorators, who value them for their ability to add texture, warmth, and a sculptural touch to any room. They work especially well when paired with contemporary furniture featuring clean lines, where their almost organic character breaks up the coldness, but they also complement 18th- and 19th-century antiques, to which they provide a light and carefree counterpoint.