Design for an oval hand mirror

Engraving with an ornamental design for an oval hand mirror, part of a set of six designs for mirrors of the same type, likely created after designs by Étienne Delaune. The frame of the mirror is made up of symmetrical motifs, including dolphins, grotesques, bundles of leaves and fruits, strapwork and scrolling motifs. The bottom part of the mirror is flanked by the head of a woman, crowned with two branches of laurel, and framed by scrolling motifs, standing upon a pear-shaped column, which makes up the handle of the mirror. The lower part of the column is flanked by a small ring, which would have been used to decorate the design with tassels or ribbons, or maybe even to hang the object from walls. This type of design for mirrors was very popular during the 16th century in france and Europe. They were often produced in silver and, in exceptional cases, in gold, with the use of gems, semi-precious stones, or colored glass to add color to the designs.