A monumental lyre-shaped overmantle mirror

A monumental lyre-shaped overmantle mirror, the pair of mirror plates set on either side of the 'strings', the 'crossbar' and 'tail-piece' decorated with finely carved swags of scrolling acanthus leaves, the whole surmounted by a small foliate crest.England, second quarter of the 19th century.The mirror was, by repute, removed from Holland House. Holland House, originally built in 1605 by Sir Walter Cope, eventually became the home of the Fox family and an unofficial base of operations for the Whig party in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The house was tragically destroyed by Luftwaffe firebombing during the Blitz and today only ruins remain, whilst the grounds are now the public Holland Park.H: 154cm, W: 130cm,D: 8cm