Carved Lintel Wall Mirror

Description

Hebei, circa 1900

Originating in Hebei province in eastern China, the carved section of this mirror once acted as a decorative door lintel and dates from the turn of the last century. Made from beech wood, it would have graced the apex of an entrance to a room in a wealthy household, with walls made up of similarly ornate carved wooden panels. Lintels of this kind tended to follow a similar design, often with a central carved decal and two wing-carvings either side, placed in a frame finished off at each end with carvings of people, fu dogs, or wooden ‘tassels’. By repurposing it as a mirror, the lintel has been given a new lease of life, providing a perfect arched frame for the glass.