Looking glass

Patterned after English examples, large looking glasses like these were extremely expensive. Large pieces of silvered mirror glass were not produced in the United States, and therefore had to be imported. The giltwood ornament and glass panels with painted scenes added to the expense. However, regardless of their high cost, fancy looking glasses were popular among North America's wealthy. Cabinetmaker John Doggett, whose sizable shop made and labeled these glasses, sold his products as far afield as Montreal and New Orleans. This example is one of a set of two almost-identical looking glasses owned by the DMA bearing Doggett's paper label on the back.

**Excerpt from**

DMA unpublished material.