Looking Glass 1772 - 1775

This Looking Glass, crafted by John Elliott Sr., features a carved frame rich with symbolic meaning. The floral motifs, so delicately rendered, speak of nature's abundance and the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Now, consider the swan at the base, a motif echoing through time. In antiquity, the swan was sacred to Apollo, god of light and reason, but also to Aphrodite, goddess of love. Here, the swan is more than mere decoration; it's a bridge connecting classical ideals with the aspirations of 18th-century society. It speaks of beauty, grace, and the transformative power of love. The mirror itself, framed by these symbols, invites us to contemplate not just our reflection, but also the echoes of history and the enduring power of symbols to shape our understanding of ourselves. It's a testament to how the past continually resurfaces, transformed, in the present.