Console table and upright mirror

Description

The slenderly proportioned ensemble in the style transitional between Louis XV and Louis XVI comes from the Wendelstörferhof in Basle, also known as the White House, the former town residence of the silk ribbon manufacturer Jakob Sarasin. For the sophisticated decoration of the new house built for him between 1763 and 1770 by the architect Samuel von Werenfels, paintings, textiles, tapestries, wallpaper, furniture and lighting mounts were ordered directly from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Coblenz, Colmar, Constance, Innsbruck, Berne, Besançon and Nancy, or from dealers. An inscription on the underside of the mirror informs us of its provenance: "J.B. Dubost de Luneville en Lorene près Nancy". The frame of the mirror is decorated with pelicans and climbing roses, which were symbols used in freemasonry and must have directly to do with Jacob Sarasin himself. Similar symbols are found again on the documents and seal of the "grande loge mere egyptienne des pays helvetiques'", of which Sarasin was the 'Maitre de Chef'. The society was founded in 1781-82 by Count Cagliostro and existed side by side with the regular masons' lodges that came into being in Basle between 1768 and 1783.