A charming Florentine-style small oval mirror, featuring an ornately carved and scrolled giltwood frame in the Rococo taste. The frame is decorated with elegant volutes, C-scrolls, and a stylized cartouche silhouette, finished in gold leaf over a traditional red bole undercoat, which subtly shows through at the high points to lend a warm, antique patina.

This diminutive mirror is designed for versatile display, featuring a small wire loop on the reverse for wall hanging. The reverse is finished with a classic fleur-de-lis patterned backing paper and retains its original importer label for Decorative Crafts, Inc., a prominent American purveyor of fine Italian decorative arts active since the early 20th century.

Condition Report & Provenance

• Artist / Maker / Author: Decorative Crafts, Inc. (importer)
• Period: Mid-Century Modern (circa 1950s–1970s)
• Origin: Italy
• Material / Technique: Water-gilded wood and gesso, mirrored glass
• Materials: wood, gesso, glass, paper
• Markings: Stamped "MADE IN ITALY" in blue ink on reverse backing paper; numbered "1653" on a paper

History

Florentine giltwood accessories experienced a major revival in the mid-20th century, particularly among American decorators who favored the warmth and classical elegance of Italian craftsmanship. Importers like Decorative Crafts, Inc. (founded in 1928) specialized in sourcing these hand-crafted pieces from workshops in Florence and the surrounding Tuscan region, bridging traditional European artisanal techniques with post-war American interior design tastes.