{"product_id":"rare-louis-xvi-mirror-with-revolutionary-bonnet-rouge-crest-c-1790","title":"Rare Louis XVI Mirror with Revolutionary Bonnet Rouge Crest, c.1790","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThe mirror to celebrate Liberty\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a fascinating \u003cstrong\u003eLouis XVI style mirror\u003c\/strong\u003e. But the first question is: what exactly are we looking at here? A tiny hat \u003cem\u003ebelonging to a dwarf?\u003c\/em\u003e A curious piece of textile carved into wood? Or something much more \u003cem\u003eintriguing?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt first glance, the mirror appears to be a textbook example of \u003cstrong\u003eelegant Louis XVI neoclassicism\u003c\/strong\u003e. The composition has all the familiar ingredients: laurel branches, draped swags, bead-and-reel moulding and those charming little hanging husks. Everything points towards the refined world of \u003cstrong\u003ecirca 1780-1800\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut then your eye travels upwards. The circular medallion at the centre of the crest is unusual.\u003cem\u003e Very unusual.\u003c\/em\u003e It does not show the expected flaming urn, lyre, quiver, wreath or classical trophy found on countless Louis XVI mirrors. Instead, it appears to depict a soft, \u003cem\u003efolded cap\u003c\/em\u003e with a slightly bent tip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLook closer and the mystery begins to unravel. This is most likely a \u003cstrong\u003ePhrygian cap\u003c\/strong\u003e, also known as the \u003cem\u003eBonnet Rouge\u003c\/em\u003e, one of the most recognisable symbols of the \u003cstrong\u003eFrench Revolution.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd suddenly this mirror becomes much more than a beautiful decorative object. It becomes a small historical witness to one of France’s most \u003cem\u003eturbulent decades.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Louis XVI Style\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Louis XVI style did not simply vanish when Louis XVI lost his throne. Decorative styles rarely obey political calendars. The elegant neoclassical language of straight lines, ribbons, laurel wreaths and classical ornament remained enormously popular throughout the Revolutionary period. Craftsmen did not throw away their pattern books in 1789. \u003cem\u003eThey adapted them.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(Think of it as a very elegant eighteenth-century version of changing the branding while keeping the beautiful old design underneath.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDangerous Decorations\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter the Revolution, royal symbols became complicated. \u003cem\u003eCrowns, fleur-de-lis\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eroyal monograms\u003c\/em\u003e could suddenly become \u003cstrong\u003edangerous decorations\u003c\/strong\u003e. Some were removed, altered or hidden. In their place appeared new symbols representing the changing times: laurel wreaths, oak leaves, civic trophies and, most famously, \u003cem\u003ethe Phrygian cap.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Bonnet Rouge\u003c\/strong\u003e had a long history before becoming the emblem of the Revolution. In ancient Rome, a similar cap was associated with freed slaves, making it a powerful symbol of liberty. During the French Revolution it became an image of \u003cem\u003efreedom, equality\u003c\/em\u003e and the rejection of absolute monarchy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this mirror so fascinating is that nothing about it feels revolutionary in an aggressive sense. The overall design remains graceful, symmetrical and unmistakably Louis XVI. \u003cem\u003eThe revolution is hidden in the details.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead of a royal crown or classical urn, the crest may quietly \u003cem\u003ecelebrate Liberty\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is almost poetic: a mirror that kept its refined eighteenth-century elegance but changed its political wardrobe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCould the mirror have been made after the Revolution? \u003cem\u003eQuite possibly\u003c\/em\u003e. A date \u003cstrong\u003earound the 1790s\u003c\/strong\u003e or early Empire period would make perfect sense. One intriguing possibility is that a missing upper element once completed the composition. Perhaps a former owner, restorer or cleaner removed a more obviously royal or decorative element 150 years ago, leaving behind the mysterious Liberty cap we see today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bonnet Rouge itself is not painted red, of course. The famous red cap is known from paintings, engravings and revolutionary clothing, but in carved wood, bronze or stone, the shape alone was enough to communicate the idea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe way the wind blows\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring this period, many craftsmen continued working for the same sophisticated clientele as before, although their clients suddenly had to be much more careful about appearing \u003cem\u003etoo aristocratic\u003c\/em\u003e. A mirror like this almost seems to whisper: \u003cem\u003e“I still love beautiful Louis XVI design… but I also understand the new world outside.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot propaganda. Not a political statement shouted from the walls. Just a subtle symbol showing that the owner understood \u003cem\u003ewhich way the wind was blowing.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMirror condition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe mirror retains its original backboards and original mirror plate, which has developed only a few delicate foxed spots over time. The glass still provides a very clear reflection. The frame preserves its original water gilding, with subtle variations and gentle patina. Overall, the mirror remains in beautiful antique condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beautiful object, but also a little \u003cstrong\u003ehistorical puzzle\u003c\/strong\u003e: a mirror caught between two worlds, carrying the elegance of the \u003cem\u003eAncien Régime\u003c\/em\u003e and the symbols of a changing France.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Louis XVI mirror that may have quietly switched teams during the French Revolution.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wildschut Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57345057194357,"sku":"Mirror-louis-xvi-mirror-bonet-rouge","price":2280.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0843\/7930\/4236\/files\/Wildschut_Antiques_Bonnet_Rouge_Louis_XVI_Mirror_Web.jpg?v=1783521068","url":"https:\/\/wildschut-antiques.com\/products\/rare-louis-xvi-mirror-with-revolutionary-bonnet-rouge-crest-c-1790","provider":"Wildschut Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}