Some objects are technically mirrors, but that's almost beside the point.
This is one of them.
Made from torch-cut steel, the dragon curls into itself to create the mirror aperture, its body becoming the frame in one continuous movement. Above, a wonderfully self-satisfied head bares a full set of brass teeth, somewhere between a grin and a warning. It's theatrical, but not in the polished, fantasy-novel sense. More the work of someone with a welder, a good eye and an afternoon to indulge an idea.
The hand of the maker is everywhere. The cut edges are left honest, the steel carries the bloom of oxidisation rather than paint, and the brass teeth, claws and spines have softened with age into something that catches the light without shouting for it. Nothing feels overworked.
It reminds me of the sort of piece you'd stumble across hanging in an old forge or tucked away in the corner of an artist-blacksmith's workshop. Slightly eccentric. Entirely unapologetic. The kind of object that doesn't really follow fashions because it never belonged to one in the first place.
Hang it where a conventional mirror might go if you like, but it earns its keep just as happily as a small piece of wall sculpture. Every room needs one object that makes people stop for a second before asking, "Where on earth did you find that?"
Condition
Very good vintage condition with a naturally oxidised steel surface and mellow brass embellishments. Minor age-related wear commensurate with use. Mirror plate is clean and presents well.
Dimensions
Height: 46 cm
Width: 38 cm
Delivery
Qualifies as a medium item. UK delivery via insured courier/FedEx at checkout; international shipping available—ask for a quote.
