Louis XIII mirror, 17th century

Large Louis XVIIth century blackened wood mirror, alternating deep moldings and doucines with rippled decorations with guilloche flowerbeds.
Some moldings and ovens are also adorned with a charming decoration of painted flowers.
This mirror is called "Huguenot" because it is provided at the back with a hiding place. (see our wink below)

Dimensions
H. 92 cm x L. 88 cm x D.14 cm

Holland
Original mercury mirror
Very good state
17th century

Our wink
By revoking the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Louis XIV prohibited Protestantism.
However, some Protestants continue to practice their religion in secret in their homes and in clandestine assemblies, despite the penalties incurred (death, galleys, prison).
To limit the risks, the objects necessary for worship are kept at home and must be hidden, in order to escape control visits.
Our mirror is called "Huguenot" because it constitutes an ideal hiding place to hide a Bible in its thickness. We simply used its hollow shape, closed by a thin wooden partition, to create a cache. This double bottom made it possible to conceal the forbidden book from the eyes of the king's soldiers.