Tramp Art Crown Crest Easel Mirror, Central Europe, 19th Century

This diminutive Tramp Art mirror is one of the most inventive examples of the form, its silhouette shaped like a miniature reliquary or altar piece with a tri-pointed crown crest at the top and scrolled bracket feet at the base. The entire surface is covered in tight chip-carved diamond and zigzag patterns with a two-tone dark brown and black finish that gives it an almost lacquered richness. A built-in easel on the back allows it to stand freely on a shelf or tabletop, making it as functional as it is beautiful.