Looking Glass
Isaac Platt
1829–35 · Glass, gesso · The American Wing
In the design of this looking glass, sculptural fleur-de-lis corner brackets are accompanied by repeating Neoclassical bands and acanthus-like motifs to frame an impressive length of mirrored plate glass. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, large glasses aided in the amplification of sun- and lamplight within a room. They were often placed either horizontally over fireplaces or vertically between windows. This looking glass, one of a pair (see 1979.393.2), bears some stylistic and construction similarities to labeled examples from the shop of Isaac L. Platt, a looking-glass manufacturer and retailer active from 1815 to 1843 on Broadway in New York City.
- Artist
- Isaac Platt
- Date
- 1829–35
- Medium
- Glass, gesso
- Culture
- American
- Department
- The American Wing
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leo D. Bretter, 1979
