Wall mirror; Spanish School, 17th century and later

Wall mirror; Spanish School, 17th century and later
Carved, gilded, and polychrome wood
19th-century finial
Measurements: 126 x 76 x 7 cm.

Large-format wall mirror with a rectangular mirror surface topped by a semicircular arch, framed by gilded carved wood featuring a vegetal design of scrolls and acanthus leaves on the side panels, and two cartouches with floral motifs in the spandrels; flanked by two hanging pilasters topped with pinecones. The ensemble is crowned by a finial, decorated with a rosette in the center and a series of rosettes arranged on either side, while at the ends there are two small turned finials.

This disparity in elements suggests that the main frame of this mirror originated from a 17th-century altarpiece, which was later repurposed by incorporating a new 19th-century finial and, in the 20th century, the side finials, ultimately resulting in the current configuration as a wall mirror. This practice of reusing elements from altarpieces, frames, or dismantled or lost pieces of religious furniture was relatively common, especially in the wake of the confiscations and the subsequent dispersal and sale of items from convents and churches, which found new life as decorative components of secular furniture.