A stunning 17th Century Italian Octagonal Frame from Rome, a cassetta ebonized walnut frame with mercury mirror inside. The central band between two stepped frame moldings consists of applied  copper foils, finely engraved and gilded, decorated with semiprecious stones, eight striated agates of different quality,  in oval and convex cut,  arranged in the center of each side and flanked by cast and gilt bronze decorations placed at the corners of this original 17th-century Roman octagonal cassetta frame. The outer perimeter shows applied cast and gilt bronze panel ends, friezes consisting  of two scrolls joined together by a shell  -one at lower left has been restored.

We have found identical applications in a similar antique frame on page 105 of the Repertorio della Cornice Europea, Repertory of the European Frame edited by A. Montanari and R. Lodi, Correggio 2003.

In the two upper and lower ends instead of the shell we find gilded friezes depicting the face of a cherub, a curled putto.

The frame is centered by an antique mercury mirror.

The inner side of the rebate is 7 cm. This rare and unique Roman artwork has been disassembled and metal decorations has been polished, fully restored and it is now in good age related condition, ready to hang as a  lovely unique small mirror from 1600s.