Fine Dutch Copper Mirror with hand-hammered repoussé panels and original nautical brushes, ca. 1895–1908
$ 97.49
- This Dutch Copper Mirror is an outstanding example of the Nieuwe Kunst production developed in the Netherlands between the late 19th and early 20th century. Conceived as a refined wall-mounted dressing cabinet, it combines a wooden structure with a frontal surface composed of hand-hammered copper repoussé panels, executed with remarkable depth and the organic symmetry characteristic of Dutch Art Nouveau design. The repoussé work displays a vigorous modeling, with interlaced foliage and floral scrolls emerging with sculptural clarity. Along the transitional zones between the main reliefs and the surrounding planes, the marks of manual hammering are clearly visible—small rhythmic variations that confirm the artisan’s direct intervention and rule out industrial production. The interior preserves its original wooden structure, while the back panel in repoussé copper remains exceptionally well conserved, a rare feature in cabinets of this typology. The piece retains its two original brushes, each decorated with stylized nautical scenes of sailing vessels, an iconic motif deeply rooted in Dutch visual culture. Both brushes preserve their natural bristles, a particularly uncommon survival in objects of this age. Structurally, the Dutch Copper Mirror is in remarkable condition. The carpentry remains stable, the hinges function properly—despite some early replacement screws—and all copper panels retain their original surfaces, free from modern polishing or restoration. The flat mirrors, consistent with early 20th-century glass, show natural silvering variations without structural loss or replacement. DimensionsHeight: 60.5 cm (23.81 in)Width: 35 cm (13.77 in)Depth: 6.5 cm (2.55 in) These balanced dimensions give the piece a strong decorative presence while preserving the intimate domestic scale typical of the finest Dutch works of the period. For its integrity, the quality of its hand-hammered repoussé, the preservation of the interior copper panel, and the rarity of its original nautical brushes, this Dutch Copper Mirror stands as a distinguished object within late fin-de-siècle Dutch decorative arts—highly valued by collectors, gallerists, and interior designers seeking authenticity, historical coherence, and artisanal excellence.
