Oval Mirror with Brass Frame, Italian Work, circa 1970

This mirror features an oval glass set within a gilt brass frame with a sloping profile, whose moulded inner edge finely frames the reflection. The original glass, slightly smoked, softens the light and gives the object an elegant depth. The absence of any ornament concentrates attention on the purity of the oval and the gleam of the metal.

This refined sobriety, which makes material and geometry the only decorative arguments, is characteristic of Italian design of the 1970s, a period when transalpine workshops rendered gilt brass in clean forms of great modernity.

Condition report: Good overall condition. Brass with a fine uniform gilded patina, original glass possibly showing likely surface micro-pitting or scratches inherent to age. A timeless mirror for an entrance hall, a bathroom or above a console.