Art Deco guilloche enamel hand mirror on sterling with 24K gold accents, c1920

Even the most simple guilloche enamel objects are highly desirable today. The tightly etched patterns under the enamel give them a fascinating and appealing textural quality. This mirror is far from simple. It has a linear guilloche pattern with waves. It’s enameled with an exquisite early deco design in white and purple. Then it is accented in 24K gold, under the enamel. The metal is sterling, except for the bezel around the mirror, which is sterling plated over brass for extra strength. The actual mirror has a beveled edge. There is a large hole at the end of the handle, which can be used to hang the mirror… either directly or by attaching an interesting cord.

There is one tiny chip in the purple enamel on the handle. It doesn’t quite go through, but the purple is lighter under the chip. The silver on the mirror handle has some areas of stubborn tarnish because it’s not easy to clean silver mirrors. In order to avoid damaging the back of the mirror, it is best to remove the mirror before cleaning… a little troublesome but worth it.

In this country we see quite a bit of English guilloche, which is generally rather simple but still beautiful. Russian artist, Carl Faberge is the one who popularized the use of more complex guilloche in the late 1880s. While this piece differs significantly from the Faberge pieces, it seems most likely that it is Russian in origin. Other famous jewelers who worked in complex guilloche include Cartier, Chaumet, Boucheron and Tiffany.

Condition: Excellent.

Measurements: The mirror is 9.5 inches long by 5 inches wide.

Price: SOLD

Reference: N0000634

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