Art Nouveau Chalkware Nymph Goddess Vanity Mirror

Developed by the Pennsylvania Dutch in the late 1700s, chalkware was America's budget-friendly alternative to the widely popular, yet costly, imported English Staffordshire pottery.

Crafted from plaster of paris or sculpted gypsum, chalkware quickly became the decorative pottery alternative of choice for the middle class who yearned for the beauty and sophistication of English pottery, but didn't necessarily want to shell out the big bucks to own it.

Sometimes called "poor man's porcelain," chalkware pieces were cheap and easy to make. In fact, many people made them at home utilizing homemade molds and painted them with oils or watercolors.

As time went on and the popularity of chalkware continued to grow, many American and European artists began incorporating this new medium into their repertoire. Soon this so-called pauper porcelain transitioned from rudimentary folk art into highly detailed and skilled fine art.

By the latter half of the 19th century, chalkware items proliferated rapidly and were offered to the masses in a range of grades -- from high quality parlor pieces to the less refined, carnival pieces.

This beautiful tabletop mirror is a wonderful example of the higher quality chalk pieces that one might see in a Victorian parlor or boudoir. 

It features a stunning Art Nouveau nymph or possibly a goddess holding a mirror above her as if she is holding the moon or perhaps the weight of the world.  Wonderfully detailed from her wild and wispy locks to her delightfully draped gown, this lovely lady is painted with a copper and bronze affect, giving her the appearance that she is cast in metal instead of plaster.

She is not signed by an artist or a production company, but she is numbered on the back. This is most likely a mold number of some sort. Unfortunately, we are unable to attribute it to any specific artist.

** This item is available for local Richmond, VA pick-up only **