Antique George III Style Chinese Chippendale Giltwood Mirror. 

Overall: 46 X 27 1/4 in. 

Sight: 29 1/2 X 19 1/2 in. 

#3928 . 

The Georgian era was a period in British history from 1714 to c. 1837, named after the Hanoverian kings George I, George II, George III and George IV, with a small extension to include the relatively short reign of William IV. The subperiod that is the Regency era is defined by the regency of George IV as Prince of Wales during the illness of his father George III. The transition to the Victorian era was characterized in religion, social values, and the arts by a shift in tone away from rationalism and toward romanticism and mysticism. The term Georgian is typically used in the contexts of social and political history and architecture, with furniture and clothing farming a subcategory. A period of relative peace and prosperity spanning over a century, the Georgian period saw a great increase in innovation, an expansion of the already powerful British Empire, and a flowering of literary and visual arts. Two factors heavily influenced the stylistic evolution: a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture, and the importation and popularization of mahogany. The influence of classical antiquity is most evident in the luxurious Palladian furniture style (sometimes called Georgian Palladian) of the early to mid-Georgian era. Massive in scale and extravagantly gilded with cabriole legs, Palladian pieces were intended to furnish England’s country homes, mansions, and palaces. From a dining table to a dining chair, this style was first popularized primarily by the designs of furniture maker William Kent. During the early 18th Century, Georgian style furniture was deeply rooted in Dutch and French fashions of the previous century, with walnut reigning supreme as the wood of choice, but mahogany became accessible through the West Indian colonies and supplanted it as the dominant medium. The Georgian era, given its length, is considered one of the most collectable and appreciated periods by furniture aficionados today, with major makers like Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite, and Thomas Sheraton commanding premium prices.