The mirrored wardrobe, or armoire à glace, appears around the year 1800 although they are much more associated with the mid 19th century (by which time they have become a staple in domestic furnishings). The finest and most luxurious models were produced during the Charles X period, in either mottled maple or rosewood, such as this example here. These darker rosewood models generally appear after 1825 when the wood color scheme of the original Charles X style was inverted (moving from light maple with dark inlay to dark rosewood with light, typically lemonwood or holly wood inlay). Note how the inside of this piece is finished with mottled/birdseye maple as opposed to having been left “rough” as was customary on even the finest solid wood armoires made outside of Paris (displayed throughout the gallery). The shelving has been replaced, probably due to warpage or loss of the originals. Several pieces of molding have been replaced but this piece in general and especially the fine inlay is in a remarkable state of conservation.

H: 86 in. L: 42 in. D: 14 in.

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