An interesting Federal (maybe) mirror

 

You don't usually see many of these mirrors with the spherules set in the side columns. Whether they just weren't popular (or proved too annoying to dust and were discarded), they seem to account for only about one percent of the mirrors I see. So, it was a bit surprising that I came upon two of them at an antique show last week, and then found this one in a group shop on Cape Cod.


I haven't fully dismantled and explored it, but I question the age of it, in spite of the fact that it does have some old repairs. Perhaps I will be able to determine if it is of period, with signs of age obscured due to the restorations, or, as I suspect, the product of some early 20th century manufacture.

The reverse painted panel is definitely not of the Federal period, but I don't know if was a replacement for an earlier one, or one created at the time of this mirror. It has a certain charm, but looks a bit "cottagey" for this formal style of mirror.

My plans are to do a couple minor touch-ups, and create a more appropriate eglomise panel.

Huguenot Street in New Paltz, New York

 

 

 

During our recent trip to Albany, we visited some sights on the west side of the Hudson River. Having seen stories about New Paltz in old issues of Antiques Magazine, we took advantage of the unexpectedly beautiful spring weather to sightsee. Although the buildings and visitor center were not open yet for the season, we did have a chance to walk the historic district and take photos.



 

 

According to the Historic Huguenot Street website: Seeking freedom from persecution by Catholic authorities, the "New Paltz Huguenots" sailed to America in the 1660s and 1670s. They travelled to present-day Kingston and founded New Paltz.

 

Today, the 10-acre National Historic Landmark District includes a visitor center, seven stone house museums, a reconstructed 1717 French church, and an early burial ground.

 

 

Making Progress

And the saga of the unfinished projects continues. This dressing table was purchased years ago, languished in garage/Wiscasset house waiting to be worked on. The paint was stripped last summer, and now that I have an inkling of what to do, I put base coats on. Getting this far usually motivates me, so it should move along.