The Fiesole convex mirror is all about transparency. A frame that is almost bowl shaped was perfect for a ring of large rock crystal quartz spheres reflecting a surface of gold metal leaf. The addition of clear Venetian glass rods frames the spheres playing off the play between clear and gold.
The Fiesole convex mirror is about 9 inches in diameter. It is hanging in my studio prior to being shipped to one of my showrooms.
Jewelry for Walls!
Rock crystal quartz is one of my favorite minerals and I have used many beautiful samples in my work. I could tell you about its mystical qualities like revitalising a person’s mental, emotional, physical and spiritual planes. But I love quartz for its glamour, mystery and the complexity of its refracting structure. All the metaphysical stuff associated with quartz is fine but not for me.
When I was searching for an image to compliment the Fiesole mirror is found this sublime Fra Angelico from the church of San Domenico in Fiesole, Italy.
This panels comes from the predella (lowest part) of the altarpiece made for the high altar of San Domenico, Fiesole. Fra Angelico was a Dominican friar (a member of the religious order founded by Saint Dominic) as well as a painter. The church was attached to his own convent – so although he made two other altarpieces for it, he was not paid for his work.
Predellas usually showed narrative scenes of the lives of the saints who were depicted in the main part of the altarpiece. This one is unusual: it shows Christ in glory in heaven, surrounded in the central scene by angels. This is framed by two panels showing rows of saints and Old Testament figures. These in turn are enclosed on either side by Dominican ‘Blessed’ figures who were holy and revered but not saints.
The mass of saints includes Dominicans and reflects their interest in the saints of their order and the place of the Dominicans in the broader church.
Thank you National Gallery for the above blurb!
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