A classic antique French faux bamboo mirror in turned fruitwood, likely dating from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century when this style -- known in France as bambou tourne -- was produced in quantity by French woodworkers and found its way into bedrooms, dressing rooms and hallways across the country. The frame is built from four sturdy turned-wood rails, each carved and lathe-turned to convincingly mimic the nodes and smooth sections of bamboo cane, joined at each corner with the characteristic cross-bar construction that lets the rails extend beyond the glass on all four sides.
The wood has aged to a warm amber-honey tone, and the overall effect is both graphic and welcoming -- the kind of object that earns its place in a bedroom, an entryway, or above a console without demanding attention. The mirror glass is original and retains a slight age to its silvering that adds depth rather than detracting from its usefulness. Pieces like this were a staple of the French bourgeois interior and continue to be sought after for their ability to sit easily in both rustic and more refined settings.
Condition and patina consistent with age. One small chip is visible at a lower finial tip, and light surface wear is present on the frame consistent with honest use over many decades; the glass is intact and presents well.
Overall approx. 18.9 in wide x 24 in high (48 x 61 cm); mirror glass approx. 11.2 in wide x 15.9 in high (28.5 x 40.5 cm).
