Mirror Case with Flowers, Hazelnuts, Birds, and Butterflies c. 1800 - 1850

Curator: This is a mirror case, ornamented with flowers, hazelnuts, birds, and butterflies. It's an anonymous piece held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like opening a secret garden, doesn't it? The colors are so rich, like stepping back in time. Curator: The composition is dense, with motifs arranged in layers against a warm ground. The eye wanders through blooms and delicate creatures. Editor: I love the way the artist plays with the scale of the elements, creating a sort of dreamlike space where everything coexists. The hazelnuts amidst the flowers. It makes me consider what I'm reflecting back at it. Curator: Indeed. It's a fascinating blend of the natural world presented with artistic license. Editor: So evocative and unique. I'm definitely going to revisit this gem. Curator: A sentiment I wholeheartedly share. Thank you.