Antique Mirrors
An antique mirror does double duty: it reflects light and space while serving as a striking decorative feature in its own right. Our dealers offer overmantel mirrors, pier glasses, dressing table mirrors, convex mirrors, cheval mirrors and wall mirrors in gilded, mahogany, walnut and ebonised frames.
Georgian, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian examples are all available, along with French and Continental pieces. Original mercury glass plate, with its characteristic soft, slightly mottled reflection, is prized by collectors.
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A Finely Carved Black Forest Mirror
A Black Forest mirror. Beautifully carved, in linden wood, in the form of a spread eagle and with i...
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Large Scale Georgian Inlaid Toilet Mirror
A superior George III period toilet, or dressing, mirror of generous proportions. Well constructed i...
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Inlaid Mahogany Sheraton Revival Cheval Mirror
A good quality late Victorian period inlaid mahogany cheval mirror. From the Sheraton revival period...
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A Rare 18th Century Venetian Mirror
Unusual because of its size this mirror or looking glass is from the late 18th century and retains m...
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Late 18th C Gilt Frame Wall Mirror
Late 18th Century Gilt frame Rococo wall mirror. In carved wood and Gesso and retaining most of its...
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A Fine Adam Period Wall Mirror
A fine 18th century paint decorated wall mirror. With an urn atop and garlands of hare-bell running...
18th Century Walnut Toilet Mirror
A really charming little early George II 18th Century Walnut Toilet mirror of truly outstanding colo...
Large Regency Tryptich Gilt Overmantle Mirror
A super Regency style Edwardian gilt overmantle mirror, three bevelled mirrors with surrounding gilt...
An 18Th Century Carved Italian Mirror
An 18th century profusely carved Italian mirror. With lyre, garlands of flowers, swags and a lions m...
Large Early 19th Century Florentine Giltwood Mirror
A striking early 19th Century Florentine Giltwood Mirror, beautifully carved with scrolls and vine l...
A Very Large 19thc French Gilt Frame Mirror
A very large and impressive 19th Century French gilt frame mirror. In untouched and original conditi...
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Rosewood Overmantel Mirror
Antique Edwardian inlaid rosewood overmantel mirror having an attractive inlaid rosewood swan neck p...
Fine Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Dressing Mirror
Fine quality antique Victorian mahogany swing dressing mirror with an exquisite pierced carved mahog...
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Antique Quality Victorian Satin Birch Carved Swing Mirror
Victorian satin birch carved swing mirror having a charming oval swing mirror with a magnificent sha...
Antique Victorian 19th Century Carved Oak Free Standing Mirror
Antique Victorian 19th century carved oak free standing mirror having a fabulous quality shaped carv...
An Empire Period Mahogany And Ormolu Mirror
An Empire Period Mahogany and ormolu mirror, in well figured mahogany and retaining its original orm...
Fine 18th Century Walnut & Parcel Gilt Mirror
An outstanding and important 18th Century George II Parcel Gilt Mirror in the manner of William Kent...
Large Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Cheval Mirror
Large antique Victorian quality mahogany cheval mirror having the original adjustable mirror in a qu...
Attractive Antique Edwardian Quality Carved Mahogany Cheval Mirror
A refined Edwardian cheval mirror crafted in richly toned mahogany displaying elegant proportions an...
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Cheval Mirror
Antique Victorian quality mahogany cheval mirror having the original mirror in an arched top, mahoga...
Fine Regency Overmantle Mirror
Very good Regency gilt overmantle mirror, in very good order throughout.
36.5" high47" wide5.5" dep...
Late 19th Century Giltwood Mirror
A Beautiful late 19th Century Giltwood Mirror, well carved in the Chippendale rococo style with scro...
Fine Regency Mahogany Cheval Mirror
A very fine quality Regency mahogany cheval mirror, in overall excellent condition with a good colou...
Outstanding Victorian Gilt Mirror
A super Victorian Rectangular gilt triple plate mirror, in excellent overall condition.
4ft x 25"...
Early George III Large Oval Border Glass Mirror
English
circa 1750 - 1760
The rare 18th century, Chippendale period, large scale mirror is of the...
Regency Giltwood Convex Wall Mirror
A decorative giltwood wall mirror dating from the Regency period, with very good quality carvings of...
Burr Walnut Wall Mirror
Very good Queen Anne style burr walnut wall mirror, with bevelled mirror plate, in overall very good...
Antique Victorian Painted Adjustable Shaving Stand Vanity Mirror
Antique Victorian painted adjustable shaving stand vanity mirror having a round adjustable mirror wi...
Large Antique Victorian Mahogany and Marble Topped Swing Mirror
Large antique Victorian mahogany and marble topped toilet swing mirror having a lovely white marble...
Antique George III Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror
Antique George III mahogany dressing table mirror having the original mirror plate, three drawers wi...
Mid 19th Century French Rococo Style Giltwood Wall Mirror
A mid 19th century French giltwood and gesso wall mirror of very good quality with cascading floral...
Superb Regency Triple Plate Mirror
A very good Regency gilt triple plate mirror, bevelled mirrors, Mars being pulled by a charriot, bla...
Large Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Cheval Mirror
Large antique Victorian quality mahogany cheval mirror having the original adjustable mirror in a qu...
Exceptional Quality Antique 19th Century Victorian Carved Oak Wall Mirror
Exceptional Quality Antique 19th century Victorian carved oak wall mirror having an arched top and f...
Early 20th Century Italian Venetian Wall Mirror
A decorative early 20th century Italian Venetian wall mirror of octagonal shape, with ruby red panel...
Outstanding Quality Antique Edwardian Carved Gilded Frame Wall Mirror
Outstanding quality antique Edwardian carved gilded frame wall mirror having the original bevelled e...
French Gilt Trumeau Mirror
A super quality French gilt treameau mirror, with original back, in overall very good condition
49"...
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Swing Dressing Mirror
Antique Victorian quality mahogany swing dressing mirror having the original mirror in a mahogany fr...
Fine Quality Antique Walnut Cheval Mirror
A stylish early 20th-century walnut cheval mirror. The mirror features an elegantly shaped rectangul...
18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Mirror
A very nice 18th Century Mahogany Fretwork Mirror with carved Gilt-wood Ho Ho Bird.
In good orig...
Fine 18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Mirror
A true 18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Mirror of excellent colour with carved Ho Ho Bird to the cr...
Early 18th Century Walnut & Giltwood Mirror
Fine early 18th Century Walnut & Giltwood Mirror of very good colour and in good original condition....
Antique King Of Bavaria’s Large Carved Oak Hunting Lodge Overmantle Wall Mirror
Here we have a provincial large Carved Oak Hunting Lodge Mirror, made by Wallace and Walker in 1803...
George II giltwood and gesso pier mirror
Irish
circa 1740 - 1750
18th Century Irish Period Wall Mirror
George II carved giltwood mirror wi...
George III Period Oval Shaped Mirror
circa 1770 - 1780
Carved giltwood 18th century period wall mirror.
The top section is decorated wi...
George III Carved Giltwood Wall Mirror
circa 1760 - 1770
18th century period carved giltwood wall mirror.
To the top section, a centralis...
Antique 19th Century Chippendale Style Carved Mahogany & Gilt Wall Mirror
An 19th Century Chippendale Style Mahogany Wall Mirror. With a carved ‘hoho bird’ to the centre, and...
Superb Regency Triptych Gilt Overmantle Mirror
Fine quality Regency triptych gilt overmantle mirror, with charriot and angel decoration to the top...
Super Ebonised and Gilt Overmantle Mirror
Stylish Victorian ebonised wall mirror, having original glass with some imperfections in moulded and...
Outstanding Large Pair Large Gilt Girondoles
A superb pair of continental bevelled mirror gilded girondole wall mirrors, in outstanding conditio...
"Gillows" Toilet Mirror
An excellent George IV period mahogany toilet mirror attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. Very well c...
Super Louis Pier Mirror
Very attractive mid 19th century antique giltwood wall mirror or console table mirror, having origin...
A Superb Pair Of Large Rococo Style Wall Mirrors
A superb pair of large rococo style wall mirrors. Carved in walnut with fine detail in the Rococo ta...
Superb Pair Early Victorian Gilt Wall Mirrors
Matching pair of XIXth century wall mirror, each having old mirror plate with some foxing and minor...
Super French Parcel Gilded Mirror
A very attractive 19th century pier mirror, having original bevelled edge mirror with some foxing in...
A Fine 18th Century Gilt Frame Mirror
A Fine Large 18th Century Adam period gilt frame mirror. Of rectangular form with reeded ionic colum...
The Role of Mirrors in Interior Design
Mirrors have been used to enhance interiors since the 17th century. Placed opposite a window, a large mirror doubles the natural light in a room. Above a fireplace, an overmantel mirror creates a focal point and adds height. In a hallway, a pier glass between windows gives the illusion of greater space and provides a last-minute check before leaving the house.
When buying an antique mirror, consider both the frame and the glass. Frames range from the restrained elegance of Georgian gilt and gesso to the exuberant carving of Victorian rococo revival. The condition of gilding varies; worn gilt with the red bole showing through is part of the character and many collectors prefer it to re-gilding.
Original Glass vs. Replacement
Original mercury glass plate has a distinctive quality. The reflection is softer and warmer than modern glass, with a gentle foxing (dark spots) that develops over time. Many buyers actively seek mirrors with original glass for this reason. However, if you need a clear, functional reflection, replacement glass is perfectly acceptable and should be priced accordingly.
Hanging and Positioning
Antique mirrors can be heavy. Use appropriate fixings for your wall type: heavy-duty hooks or French cleats for plasterboard, masonry bolts for brick. Hang mirrors at eye level for practical use or higher for decorative effect. Pairs of mirrors work particularly well in symmetrical rooms, flanking a central feature such as a doorway or fireplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Foxing refers to the dark spots and cloudy patches that develop on old mirror glass as the reflective mercury and tin backing deteriorates over time. Many collectors prize this effect as evidence of genuine age and for the atmospheric quality it gives the reflection.
This is a matter of personal preference. Original glass with gentle foxing has character and adds value. If the foxing is so heavy that the mirror is no longer functional, replacement glass is a practical option. Keep the original glass safely stored in case you want to reinstate it later.
A pier glass is a tall, narrow mirror designed to hang on the wall between two windows, known as the pier. They became fashionable in the 18th century and were often paired with a matching console table below. The narrow proportions make them ideal for hallways and landings.
True gold leaf gilding has a warm, rich glow and shows the red or yellow bole (clay ground) where it has worn thin. Modern gold paint is flatter and more uniform. Water gilding, where the gold leaf is applied over wet bole, can be burnished to a high shine; oil gilding cannot.