Dimensions height 66.0 cm, width 47.0 cm, depth 29.0 cm
This toilet set is made of wood and lacquer, and features chinoiserie decorations. The most captivating element is, indubitably, the mirror, framed within a shield-like form. One sees here an echo of the classical world, where shields were not merely tools of war but symbols of protection and identity. Now, consider the symbolic resonance of the mirror itself: an object of reflection, truth, and self-awareness, themes that permeate human culture. The shield-shaped mirror is not merely functional; it is a powerful emblem that has evolved through time, resurfacing in various guises. Does it hint at a subconscious desire for self-protection, or is it a call to explore our identity? Perhaps both, intertwining our conscious and subconscious experiences. This mirror, this shield, invites one to contemplate the layers of meaning embedded within our visual world.
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The principal piece of this toilet set is a small chest of drawers with an attached mirror. This example was made in China, though its mirror follows an English design. It was commissioned by the Canton-based Dutch merchant Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest as a gift for his daughter in the Netherlands; her initials are found on the accompanying toilet boxes.
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