A Northern Italian Ebonized Mirror Frame in the Flemish Style

A robust Northern Italian baroque ebonized frame, inset with old, silvered glass. The thick frame features cove-carved 'ripple' molding, which was then ebonized. Frames of this style are usually referred to as "Flemish" but were actually more often made in northern Italy. The ebonized frames were ideally suited to highlight colored or light-filled paintings and provided a needed contrast in often dark 17th-century interiors. Today, they provide a bold sculptural and textural addition to modern interiors. The piece has minor wear consistent with age. This frame is somewhat more curvaceous than normal and has bolder carving. Northern Italy, C. 19th Century.