Hand-Carved Teak Wood Black and Gold Arched Mirror | Shell Crest Wall Mirror

The Story Behind This Mirror

Two-tone finishing is where most workshops give themselves away. It is easy to spray a frame gold; it is difficult to lay a black ground into carved recesses evenly, keep it out of the detail, and then gild only the raised work by hand without the edge between the two going ragged. That is why this piece takes longer to finish than it does to carve.

The carving comes first, in seasoned solid teak - the shell at the crest shaped from the solid so its flutes stand proud, the scrolls cut down each shoulder, the feet worked last. The frame is then hand-sanded through progressive grits until every tool mark is gone, because a black finish shows every imperfection that gold would hide. The ebonising is built up in thin coats, cut back between them, until the ground is dense and even. Only then is the gold laid, by hand, along the raised work alone, and rubbed back at the high points so the piece looks aged rather than new. The margin panels and the arched plate are fitted last.

Factual specification for this hand-carved teak wood black and gold arched mirror:

• Material: Solid teak wood, hand-carved (no veneer, no engineered wood)
• Style: Baroque arched wall mirror, two-tone ebonised and gilded
• Finish: Ebonised black ground with hand-applied gold on the raised carving; black-to-gold balance customisable, or available in full gold or dark wood polish
• Frame detail: Carved shell crest, C-scroll and acanthus shoulders, gilt beaded inner moulding, carved scrolled feet
• Glass: Arched-top mirror plate with narrow mirrored margin panels to both sides and the base
• Orientation: Wall-mounted, portrait as photographed
• Size: Custom sizes made to order - share your wall dimensions and we will quote
• Make: Made to order, handcrafted by master Indian artisans
• Photography: Actual product photos and video shared before dispatch
• Delivery: Pan-India, free shipping

Packaging and Transit Protection

Two things drive the packing method here: the projecting shell crest and the narrow margin panels, which are thinner and more fragile than the main plate. The crest and every projecting scroll are wrapped individually in high-density foam and taped clear of the finish so no adhesive touches gilding or the ebonised ground. Each margin panel is separately faced with a shatter-retention film and a rigid board, then blocked so it cannot flex against the frame; the main arched plate is treated the same way.

The frame is sleeved in a continuous foam blanket, corner-guarded at all four corners and set into a fitted wooden crate with foam blocking on every face so nothing shifts on a long road journey. The crate is marked for orientation and fragility, strapped and sealed. We photograph the piece wrapped and the crate closed and send those images before dispatch. On arrival, open the crate against the packing list and check the margin panels as well as the main plate before signing.

Shipping and Delivery

This mirror is carved and finished after you order. Typical lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from confirmation, moving to the longer end if you enlarge the frame or change the black-to-gold balance, since the two-tone finish is built up in coats and each coat needs to cure. The exact timeline is confirmed in writing at order and we share photographs after carving and after finishing, so you see the actual piece before it ships.

Delivery is free anywhere in India. We arrange and manage the transport, and our team coordinates unloading and placement at your address rather than leaving a crate at the gate. Tell us in advance about stairs, lift dimensions or society service-entry rules so the route can be planned. We advise on hanging hardware suited to your wall type - with margin panels adding glass weight, the fixing matters. International orders are quoted case by case; send us the destination for a freight and documentation quote.

Craftsmanship Assurance and Care

The solid teak frame, the carving and the joinery carry our craftsmanship assurance. If a joint opens or a carved element separates through a fault in the making - rather than impact, misuse, unsuitable fixing or attempted self-repair - we repair or replace it. Glass breakage after delivery and water damage are outside it.

A two-tone finish needs slightly more care than plain gold, because marks show on a black ground. Dust with a soft dry cloth on the flat areas and a clean dry soft brush through the shell flutes and scroll recesses. Never use water, chemical polish, alcohol or ammonia cleaners on either the ebonised ground or the gilding; both lift, and the boundary between them cannot be spot-repaired invisibly. Spray glass cleaner onto the cloth rather than onto the plate or the margin panels so nothing runs behind the glass. Keep the mirror out of direct sunlight, which greys a black finish over time, and away from heat and air-conditioner outflow. Mount on a solid wall with anchors rated above the mirror weight and check them yearly.