Hand-Carved Teak Wood Openwork Acanthus Mirror | Gold Plume Crest Florentine

The Story Behind This Mirror

Depth is what this frame is for, and depth is bought in layers. The carver establishes the ground, lifts one tier of acanthus away from it, then a second, then a third - each leaf undercut so it genuinely passes over and behind the one beneath rather than being scratched onto a single plane. Only when the layers read correctly is the waste between them pierced right through. That is the irreversible moment: the frame becomes mostly air, and everything left has to carry the glass.

The rope-twist border is a different discipline entirely and is cut last. A rope run has to keep constant pitch along every rail and turn all four corners without the spiral jumping - most workshops fudge the corners, and it shows from across a room. Here the corners are set out first and the runs carved inward to meet them. The plume crest is shaped from the solid so it stands clear of everything below. Then hand-sanding through progressive grits, gold laid in coats and rubbed back at every leaf tip and along the high side of the rope, and the plate fitted at the end.

Factual specification for this hand-carved teak wood Florentine openwork mirror:

• Material: Solid teak wood, hand-carved (no veneer, no engineered wood)
• Style: Italian Florentine giltwood, multi-tier pierced acanthus, deep section frame
• Finish: Gold, hand-applied and hand-rubbed at the leaf tips and rope high points; customisable to antique gold, distressed gold, silver or dark wood polish
• Frame detail: Tall plume flourish at the centre of the crest, layered acanthus pierced through on all four sides, foliage breaking outward at both shoulders, scrolled apron at the base, continuous carved rope-twist border to the glass
• Glass: Rectangular mirror plate
• Orientation: Wall-mounted, portrait as photographed; can be made for landscape
• 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

On a multi-tier pierced frame the outermost leaf tips project further than anything else and snap first, so they set the whole packing method. Every projecting tip and the plume crest are wrapped individually in high-density foam and taped clear of the gilded surface so no adhesive touches gold. The openwork sections are then faced with foam sheet on both sides and blocked, so nothing can press into a gap and break a rib in a layer that has no support behind it.

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. Because the frame is deep front to back, the crate is built with clearance on both faces rather than gripping the carving, and it is marked for orientation, fragility and lifting points. The plate is separately filmed and rigid-board backed. We photograph the piece wrapped and the crate closed before dispatch. On arrival, open against the packing list and inspect the outer leaf tips carefully before signing.

Shipping and Delivery

Every piece is carved after you order. Typical lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from confirmation, moving to the longer end if you enlarge the frame or ask for deeper, denser foliage - the number of tiers you specify changes the hours at the bench directly, and piercing cannot be rushed without showing. The exact timeline is confirmed in writing at order and we share progress photographs once the acanthus is cut and again after gilding.

Delivery is free anywhere in India. We arrange and manage transport and our team coordinates unloading and placement at your address rather than leaving a crate at the gate. Please tell us in advance about stairs, lift dimensions or society service-entry restrictions so the route can be planned - note the crate is sized to the carving, so it is both wider and deeper than the glass. We advise on hanging hardware for your wall type. International orders are quoted case by case on request.

Craftsmanship Assurance and Care

Our craftsmanship assurance covers the solid teak frame and the hand-carving. If a joint opens or a carved element separates because of a fault in the making - rather than through impact, misuse, an unsuitable wall fixing or an attempted self-repair - we repair or replace the piece. Glass breakage after delivery and water damage sit outside the assurance.

A deeply pierced frame collects dust in places a cloth will never reach, so use a clean dry soft brush through the acanthus layers and around the plume crest, working from the top down. A cloth catches on the leaf tips and will break the finest of them. The rope-twist border is the one place a soft dry cloth works well, since the spiral is continuous. Never use water, chemical polish, alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners on the gilded surface, as gold rubbed back by hand cannot be spot-repaired invisibly. Spray glass cleaner onto the cloth rather than onto the plate so nothing runs into the carving behind it. Keep the piece out of direct sunlight and away from heat and air-conditioner outflow, mount on a solid wall with anchors rated well above its weight, and check the fixings once a year.