LATE 18TH CENTURY

THE REOCCURRENCE OF CHINESE REVERSE PAINTED MIRRORS IN LARGE COUNTRY HOUSE COLLECTIONS DEMONSTRATES THE POPULARITY OF THIS ORNAMENTATION WHEN THE EUROPEAN TASTE FOR CHINOISERIE WAS AT ITS PEAK IN THE LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURIES. THE PLATES OFTEN OF FRENCH MANUFACTURE WERE SUPPLIED TO THE PAINTERS OF CANTON, A CENTRE FOR MIRROR PAINTING, THROUGH THE AGENCY OF EUROPEAN TRADING COMPANIES SUCH AS THE EAST INDIA COMPANY. THE DESIGNS WERE EITHER PAINTED ONTO THE MIRROR GLASS BEFORE SILVERING OR TRACED ONTO PRE-SILVERED PLATES SO THAT THE MERCURY BACKING COULD BE REMOVED PRIOR TO DECORATING. AFTER CLEANING, THE SURFACE TO BE PAINTED WAS WASHED OVER WITH GUM WATER APPLIED BY A SOFT HAIR PENCIL OR BRUSH. ONCE THE GUM HAD DRIED, THE ARTIST WORKED ON THE IMAGE IN REVERSE USING A FINE WRITING BRUSH TO APPLY OIL COLOURS, OCCASIONALLY MIXED WITH GUM. THE FINISHED ARTICLE WAS PLACED IN A CLAY PAN BETWEEN LAYERS OF FINELY SIEVED QUICK LIME BEFORE THE COLOURS WERE HARDENED IN AN OVEN.