Italian Gilt Iron Mirror + Console Attributed to Pier Luigi Colli, 1940s

An Italian gilt wrought iron wall mirror with integrated console from the 1940s, attributed to Pier Luigi Colli.

Standing nearly seven feet tall, the mirror is composed of multiple panels of glass set within an elaborate wrought iron frame. Small round gilt bosses punctuate several of the intersections, while hand-worked iron scrolls extend beyond the rectangular mirror along the top, sides, and lower edge.

The console is incorporated directly into the lower portion of the mirror. Its thick green glass top has a deeply worked, irregular edge, supported by sweeping lengths of wrought iron that curl inward and outward beneath it. Smaller scrolls repeat throughout, from the apron to the central support.

Much of the detail becomes apparent up close. The iron has been hammered, notched, and incised to create different textures across the frame, with a dotted surface along the console edge and fine repeated markings along the scrollwork. The aged gilt finish has worn naturally in places, revealing darker iron and areas of green patina.

The combination of gilt wrought iron, segmented mirror glass, and thick green glass is closely associated with Colli's mirror and console designs of the 1940s; documented examples from the period share the same use of hand-worked metal and colored or chiseled glass.

About Pier Luigi Colli

Pier Luigi Colli (1895–1968) was an Italian designer and the creative force behind his family's Turin-based furniture company, Colli. After studying at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, he joined the family business, bringing with him connections to contemporary French design and decorative arts.

Under his direction, the workshop became known for highly crafted furniture and interiors that combined traditional Italian workmanship with increasingly modern forms.Colli's work ranged from furniture and lighting to complete interiors and architectural commissions. The company also produced designs by some of Italy's leading architects, including Gio Ponti and Carlo Mollino.

During the 1940s-1950s, Colli developed a particularly recognizable group of mirrors and consoles combining gilt, hammered wrought iron with mirrored and colored glass. Examples produced in collaboration with Cristal Art show many of the techniques seen here, including worked glass shelves, segmented mirrors, and intricate hand-forged ironwork.