Featured Old Mirror. Roman Dolphins?

I bought this in Chicago. I can't seem to find anything like it online. I'd like help finding out...

1 - How old it is
2 - What the value might be
3 - Any additional info about where it is from, who made it etc.

Looks like someone stripped the finish. It used to have metal sea shells with two long hooks on each of the four corners. I don't know if the Roman dolphins and ribbons are hand-carved. It is heavy. Maybe oak? One of the curls a the bottom has been partially repaired. The mirror is original. A new back (particle board) has been put on to hold it in.

Thanks!

 

Probably gilded once. Mid to late 19th I suspect and much of its value went when some muppet stripped it.

 

American Oak
1890s-19teens.
Had a dark finish that someone has stripped off.

Either a stand alone mirror, or most likely from the back of a buffet or dresser.
@verybrad

 

Good point.

 

Interesting: here, that would almost certainly have been gilded.

 

Great! Thanks for the replies. I'm trying to find something remotely similar online but can't. I've been searched using the terms, "19th century mirror wood roman dolphins". Any other ideas?

 

So I found a hall tree with a similar motif. I'm just wondering what the style is. If this ocean-theme was a trend?

 

So sounds like it could be mid to late 19th or early 20th century. I found similar motifs on Victorian and Renaissance Revival furniture.

 

Good eye regarding the plain wood between the dolphins. I notice two tiny nail holes. I wonder if there was a metal element there for design, memorial or dedication to someone.

 

Perhaps originally painted with some design(maybe?), but as noted - the whole thing has since been stripped.

 

Poor thing. Looks so nekked.

Debora

 

There is a name for this style.
Unfortunately, I'm not good with period names.
Brad should be along this evening. He'll be able to provide the style name.

 

Its current style is HELP ME. Poor baby got skinned and never refinished. This isn't a case where I'd personally leave bad enough alone; I'd give it a new finish and probably gild it too. ...and then put the mirror in properly; that tape is a disaster waiting to happen.