Mirror

This rare mirror, produced in Sweden during the Swedish Grace period, exemplifies the refined and decorative sensibility characteristic of the movement, which flourished in the 1920s and early 1930s. Though the designer is unknown, the mirror demonstrates the hallmarks of the style: elegant proportions, neoclassical detailing, and a restrained yet luxurious material palette.

The mirror is rectangular in form, framed in warm-toned brass with integrated pewter embellishments. At the top and bottom of the frame, the pewter is worked into low-relief friezes featuring stylized figures and ornamental motifs. These decorative elements draw from classical and mythological sources, rendered in a manner that is both precise and understated—an approach typical of Swedish Grace, which sought to modernize traditional forms through simplicity and craftsmanship.

The contrast between the warm brass and the cooler pewter introduces a subtle interplay of color and texture. The brass surface has developed a soft patina, lending depth and age to the frame without obscuring its definition. The pewter elements show slight oxidation, creating tonal variation that enhances the relief work. Together, these materials form a harmonious visual composition that is simultaneously modern and rooted in historic design language.

Condition is good vintage, with signs of age including surface wear and patina on both the brass and pewter. These features are consistent with the mirror’s age and contribute to its period authenticity. The glass is clear and structurally stable, seated securely within the metal frame.

Swedish Grace, also referred to as Nordic Classicism, emerged as a response to the more ornate Art Nouveau and the emerging severity of functionalist modernism. It retained the classical lineage of symmetry and ornament, while introducing clarity of form and restraint in detailing. This mirror is a clear reflection of that transitional moment in Scandinavian design, merging decorative elegance with a modernizing spirit.

Dimensions: 30.5 cm width × 2.5 cm depth × 49 cm height
In inches: 12.0 in × 1.0 in × 19.3 in