AMERICAN EMPIRE OAK AND GESSO BALLROOM MIRROR,circa 1830-1840, reputed to have been in the U.S. Capitol, 1870. Entirely hand carved oak with a thin coat of gesso over the original gold leaf; American Bald Eagle with spread wings crowns monopodium crest with ornately carved cattails, acanthus leaves and foliate enrichments throughout; rectangular frame with an outer egg-and-dart rim enclosing conforming mirror plate; lower frame features centered blank cartouche flanked by scrolled acanthus leaves; silver mirror plate shows several signs of silver deterioration consistent with age. - 99 in. x 59 3/4 in. Estimate $2,500-3,500
scattered hairline cracks; exposed gesso with some gilt; minor losses to ornately cared oak and gesso; minor losses to silver mirror
