Paintings
Superb War of 1812 Era Reverse Painted Glass In Mirror of the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere
War of 1812 Era Mirror, with a Superb Reverse Painting On Glass of the U.S.S. Constitution's August 19, 1812 American Naval Victory over the H.M.S. Guerriere, Fine.
This impressive, early American mirror is set below a superb reverse painting on glass of U.S. Commander Isaac Hull's August 1812 naval victory 400 miles southeast of Nova Scotia. The mirror has a classic mahogany frame with light, typical age. The overall frame measures 34" tall and 15" wide, and is finely crafted, with small wooden balls set under the top mantle, and finely carved wooden columns framing the mirror. The top portion of this two-section design has the hand-painted and extremely colorful 8" x 12.5" scene of the battle between the U.S.S. Constitution and Britain's H.M.S. Guerriere on the ocean, set above the 21.5" x 12.5" mirror. Both are original. This period painting is framed by a reverse-painted brown leafy motif, and is further decorated below with painted gold-lettered caption on a black banner reading: "Constitution & Gurriere" (sic). This battle was a very important American Naval victory by the Constitution. It represented the first of several U.S. Navy victories in ship-to-ship contests, and inspired the Americans in additional battles. This painting is in wonderful condition but the glass has a rounded 4.5" long crack in the upper right corner and a smaller crack in the lower left corner--affecting only the Constitution's blue and white banner and a part of the smoke-filled sky, and a small portion of the ocean water in the lower corner. There is none of the flaking or paint separation that is so often seen on these period pieces. This mirror is ready to hang on display, just as it was originally intended. A truly superb piece of historic American Folk Art with a dramatic and important connection to a major naval victory in our country's infancy.
The USS Constitution engaged the HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812. HMS Guerriere was a British 3-masted frigate of 38 eighteen-pounder guns. It was originally captured from the French, and was commanded by Captain James Richard Dacres during the War of 1812. The USS Constitution's Commanding Officer, Isaac Hull, was eager to find and fight one of the Royal Navy frigates then active off North America. The Constitution sighted the HMS Guerriere some 400 miles southeast of the British base at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the two ships engaged in combat, with the Constitution scoring a resounding victory. British casualties were more than five times those of the Americans, and Guerriere was beyond saving. Her surviving crewmen were taken prisoner, and the ship was set afire and soon blew up. The Constitution then returned to Boston with her prisoners, arriving on August 30th. This battle, the first of several U.S. Navy victories in ship-to-ship contests, encouraged Americans and embarrassed the British. Despite the excuse that Royal Navy frigates were not as large and powerful as their American counterparts, the real causes of these outcomes were inspired seamanship and vastly better gunnery. For the rest of the 19th Century, long after the War of 1812 was over, America's Navy was credited with an effectiveness that went well beyond its usually modest size.
Superb War of 1812 Era Reverse Painted Glass In Mirror of the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere
War of 1812 Era Mirror, with a Superb Reverse Painting On Glass of the U.S.S. Constitution's August 19, 1812 American Naval Victory over the H.M.S. Guerriere, Fine.
This impressive, early American mirror is set below a superb reverse painting on glass of U.S. Commander Isaac Hull's August 1812 naval victory 400 miles southeast of Nova Scotia. The mirror has a classic mahogany frame with light, typical age. The overall frame measures 34" tall and 15" wide, and is finely crafted, with small wooden balls set under the top mantle, and finely carved wooden columns framing the mirror. The top portion of this two-section design has the hand-painted and extremely colorful 8" x 12.5" scene of the battle between the U.S.S. Constitution and Britain's H.M.S. Guerriere on the ocean, set above the 21.5" x 12.5" mirror. Both are original. This period painting is framed by a reverse-painted brown leafy motif, and is further decorated below with painted gold-lettered caption on a black banner reading: "Constitution & Gurriere" (sic). This battle was a very important American Naval victory by the Constitution. It represented the first of several U.S. Navy victories in ship-to-ship contests, and inspired the Americans in additional battles. This painting is in wonderful condition but the glass has a rounded 4.5" long crack in the upper right corner and a smaller crack in the lower left corner--affecting only the Constitution's blue and white banner and a part of the smoke-filled sky, and a small portion of the ocean water in the lower corner. There is none of the flaking or paint separation that is so often seen on these period pieces. This mirror is ready to hang on display, just as it was originally intended. A truly superb piece of historic American Folk Art with a dramatic and important connection to a major naval victory in our country's infancy.
The USS Constitution engaged the HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812. HMS Guerriere was a British 3-masted frigate of 38 eighteen-pounder guns. It was originally captured from the French, and was commanded by Captain James Richard Dacres during the War of 1812. The USS Constitution's Commanding Officer, Isaac Hull, was eager to find and fight one of the Royal Navy frigates then active off North America. The Constitution sighted the HMS Guerriere some 400 miles southeast of the British base at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the two ships engaged in combat, with the Constitution scoring a resounding victory. British casualties were more than five times those of the Americans, and Guerriere was beyond saving. Her surviving crewmen were taken prisoner, and the ship was set afire and soon blew up. The Constitution then returned to Boston with her prisoners, arriving on August 30th. This battle, the first of several U.S. Navy victories in ship-to-ship contests, encouraged Americans and embarrassed the British. Despite the excuse that Royal Navy frigates were not as large and powerful as their American counterparts, the real causes of these outcomes were inspired seamanship and vastly better gunnery. For the rest of the 19th Century, long after the War of 1812 was over, America's Navy was credited with an effectiveness that went well beyond its usually modest size.
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Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 18th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe CA 92067
