{"product_id":"early-ethan-allen-verdigris-framed-mirror-c-1945-1955-american-decorative-arts","title":"Early Ethan Allen Verdigris Framed Mirror (c. 1945–1955) | American Decorative Arts","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn early Ethan Allen framed tabletop mirror, dating to approximately 1945–1955, produced during the company’s post–World War II expansion period, when Ethan Allen was transitioning from small-scale New England cabinetmaking into a nationally recognized American furniture house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis mirror features a hand-finished verdigris-style painted frame, mitered and built from solid wood, with a warm-toned original mirror plate and factory-integrated easel support. The reverse bears an early Ethan Allen stamp, consistent with mid-century but pre-1960 branding practices, when labels and stamps were often understated and applied directly to backing boards rather than paper decals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall form, finish, and construction align far more closely with late Colonial Revival and early American Traditional decorative accessories than later 1960s–70s production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDesign \u0026amp; Construction (Scholar Analysis)\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e→ Maker: Ethan Allen (Early Period)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthan Allen Industries was founded in 1932 in Beecher Falls, Vermont. Prior to the 1960s, the company emphasized:\u003cbr\u003e• Solid wood construction\u003cbr\u003e• Hand-applied finishes\u003cbr\u003e• Traditional forms influenced by early American and European precedent\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStamped backing marks (rather than foil or paper labels) were common through the 1940s–early 1950s, especially on mirrors and wall accessories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e→ Frame Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Deeply beveled, stepped molding with tight hand-cut miters\u003cbr\u003e• Profile depth exceeds most post-1960 decorative mirrors\u003cbr\u003e• Inner lip designed to hold thicker early mirror glass\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis type of profile is consistent with pre-mass-production tooling, when frames were shaped using traditional milling and hand assembly rather than later automated processes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e→ Finish (Critical Dating Clue)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blue-green surface is not a modern “decorative patina” finish, but rather a layered oil-based paint system with visible:\u003cbr\u003e• Underlayer warmth\u003cbr\u003e• Oxidation-style color shift\u003cbr\u003e• Natural micro-crazing and edge wear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis finish style mirrors 1940s–early 1950s verdigris interpretations, inspired by:\u003cbr\u003e• European bronze oxidation\u003cbr\u003e• Federal and Neoclassical revival interiors\u003cbr\u003e• American Colonial Revival tastes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLater Ethan Allen mirrors (1960s–70s) typically used flatter acrylic or lacquer finishes, lacking this depth and irregularity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e→ Glass\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Original mirror plate with warm, slightly smoky reflection\u003cbr\u003e• No modern silver brightness or bluish cast\u003cbr\u003e• Thickness consistent with pre-1960 mirror glass\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis alone strongly suggests pre-1955 production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e→ Backing \u0026amp; Hardware\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Solid wood backing board\u003cbr\u003e• Early flat-head screws\u003cbr\u003e• Factory-applied easel support (original)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLater mirrors frequently used fiberboard or composite backings — absent here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEra \u0026amp; Historical Context\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis mirror comes from the immediate postwar American interior boom, when companies like Ethan Allen supplied furnishings for:\u003cbr\u003e• Returning servicemen establishing households\u003cbr\u003e• Suburban expansion\u003cbr\u003e• A renewed interest in tradition, permanence, and craftsmanship\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring this era, Ethan Allen leaned heavily into Colonial Revival aesthetics, but began experimenting with European-inspired finishes, such as verdigris, to elevate otherwise traditional forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis places the mirror firmly in the 1945–1955 window, not later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery good antique-to-early-vintage condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e→ Notes\u003cbr\u003e• Original painted finish intact\u003cbr\u003e• Authentic surface wear at corners and edges\u003cbr\u003e• Stable easel and frame structure\u003cbr\u003e• No glass cracks; age-appropriate surface softness only\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll wear is honest, period-consistent, and desirable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy It Belongs in Your Home\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not a mass-market mid-century accessory — it is an early Ethan Allen object, made when the company was still rooted in craft tradition rather than branding scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt brings:\u003cbr\u003e• True age and material honesty\u003cbr\u003e• Sculptural presence without ornament excess\u003cbr\u003e• A sense of permanence modern mirrors lack\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a piece for someone who values quiet authority over trend.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viridian Eclection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42746612318313,"sku":null,"price":238.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0651\/0093\/9369\/files\/early_ethan_allen_verdigris_framed_mirror_c._19451955_american_decorative_arts766012070308134446207516777.jpg?v=1774245314","url":"https:\/\/viridianeclection.com\/products\/early-ethan-allen-verdigris-framed-mirror-c-1945-1955-american-decorative-arts","provider":"Viridian Eclection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}