Antique Mirrors: Antique Wall & Overmantel Mirrors
A wide and varied selection of Antique Wall Mirrors, Fireplace Overmantel Mirrors and Period Giltwood and carved Mirrors.
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Stock: 16165
A Regency convex girandole giltwood wall mirror with a reeded ebony slip, surmounted by a spread eagle on a rocky outcrop and flanked by dolphins, with a beautifully modelled hippocampus at the bottom. English, c.1820.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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27 5⁄8"
70 cms |
43 11⁄16"
111 cms |
6 1⁄4"
16 cms |
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Listed Price: £5,500 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15965
An elegant and simple William IV overmantel mirror with reeded ebony border within a gilt frame, the two columns to each side with foliate bands.
English, c.1830.
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Width |
Depth |
Height |
| Top |
55 1⁄8"
140 cms |
5 11⁄16"
14.5 cms |
27"
68.5 cms |
| Bottom |
51 3⁄16"
130 cms |
4 1⁄8"
10.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,600 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16149
A fine French Louis XVI overmantel mirror, with a simple and elegant egg and dart frame surmounted by a delicate bound laurel wreath and trailing roses. This contains the original bevelled silvered plate.
French, c.1890.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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45 1⁄2"
115.5 cms |
63 3⁄8"
161 cms |
6 1⁄2"
16.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £5,800 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16101
A very fine early George III giltwood wall mirror in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, the frame with a finely carved scrolling acanthus crest and trailing foliage with the merest suggestion of the pagoda corners associated with Chippendale's designs. Original gilding.
English, c.1760.
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Width |
Height |
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24"
61 cms |
46 7⁄8"
119 cms |
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Stock: 16093
A large and grand pair of gilt gesso Victorian overmantel mirrors. The slender spiral fluted frames are surmounted by eagles on rocky outcrops, situated within a thistle decoration.
Provenance: Runnymede Park, Surrey.
English, c.1850.
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Width |
Height |
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48"
122 cms |
59 13⁄16"
152 cms |
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Listed Price: £9,000 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16128
A fine gilt gesso George III wall mirror with delicate carving. The intricate frame has fine detailing throughout, including a well carved and delicate crest of foliate form and flowering vines and foliage within a framework of c scrolls.
English, c.1770.
Awaiting mirror plate replacement.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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21 1⁄8"
53.5 cms |
41 1⁄4"
105 cms |
4 1⁄8"
10.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £6,800 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16127
A fine and large English Rococo wall mirror, with beautifully soft gilding. The sinuous frame is carved with sweeping foliate decoration which trails over the Rococo shell motifs to the top and bottom of the frame. Original silvered mirror plate.
English, 19th century.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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30 1⁄4"
77 cms |
53 7⁄8"
137 cms |
1 5⁄8"
4 cms |
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Stock: 16079
A 19th century giltwood and gesso framed wall mirror in the Rococo style, with a delicately moulded and scrolling frame of foliate and Rococo design, the mirror plate held with a bound laurel border.
English, c.1880.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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29 7⁄8"
76 cms |
40 3⁄8"
102.5 cms |
2 13⁄16"
7 cms |
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Stock: 16125
A rare American giltwood wall mirror by E. F. Caldwell & Co. This finely carved oval mirror embodies the Baroque Revival style, the winged ignudi and other details carved in high relief. This mirror was likely specially commissioned to accompany wall sconces of the same design made by the company, with the addition of three branches.
Original mirror plate.
United States, c.1900.
Notes: See the E. F. Caldwell & Co. Collection, Smithsonian Institution, C012765 to see this model catalogued as three light wall appliques.
Edward F. Caldwell & Co. were America’s preeminent lighting manufacturers of the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries, illuminating some of the most notable buildings in the United States. In addition to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and the White House in Washington, D.C., the company’s masterful light fixtures also adorn the homes of some historically prominent figures, such as J.P. Morgan and Phillip Lehman.
The firm was founded in 1895 by American Edward F. Caldwell and Victor F. von Lossberg from Latvia.
In 1901 Edward F. Caldwell & Co. opened a foundry and quickly rose to the top of the electric light manufacturing business with their shared vision, choosing to deliver quality elegant fixtures that frequently drew on historic European designs. The firm produced magnificent lighting pieces, as well as finely crafted decorative objects and mirrors. Their neoclassical designs borrowed heavily from Baroque and Rococo styles.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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30 1⁄4"
77 cms |
44 7⁄8"
114 cms |
2 3⁄8"
6 cms |
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Listed Price: £7,600 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16076
A small neoclassical style gilt gesso wall mirror with marginal plates, surmounted by a broken pediment and and a lidded urn.
French, c.1910.
Provenance:
Property from a private collection of European Decorative Arts
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Width |
Height |
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19 11⁄16"
50 cms |
33 1⁄8"
84 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,400 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16148
A French Louis XV Rococo Overmantel Mirror with fine gilding. The elegant sweeping frame is surmounted by a rocaille detail and open scroll cresting.
French, c.1870.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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41 1⁄4"
105 cms |
68 7⁄8"
175 cms |
2 3⁄8"
6 cms |
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Stock: 15997
A fine French giltwood wall mirror, the gilded frame carved with scrolls and foliate flourishes over a wide mirrored border.
Southern French (possibly Provence), c.1770 with restorations.
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Width |
Height |
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30 1⁄4"
77 cms |
49 3⁄16"
125 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16134
A 19th century gilt gesso sectional wall mirror with a bird, cornucopia and quiver surmount above a beaded and foliate scroll frame, with marginal plates.
English, c.1880.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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37"
94 cms |
49 5⁄8"
126 cms |
5 1⁄2"
14 cms |
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Stock: 15890
A fine Regency convex mirror with parcel-gilt frame surmounted by a giltwood foliate crest.
English or Scottish, c.1820.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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18"
45.8 cms |
33"
83.8 cms |
2 13⁄16"
7 cms |
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Stock: 15967
An early nineteenth-century gilt gesso wall mirror surmounted by a lidded urn and oak leaf decoration over a simply moulded frame.
English, c.1810.
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Width |
Height |
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29 1⁄2"
75 cms |
50 3⁄8"
128 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16080
A Florentine gilt wall mirror of foliate design with a bevelled glass plate.
Italian, c.1950.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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23 13⁄16"
60.5 cms |
28"
71 cms |
1 5⁄8"
4 cms |
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Stock: 16005
A wonderfully ornate mirror, lavishly gilded with gleaming gold leaf. The egg and dart frame is adorned with an intricate cartouche, centred by a scallop shell motif, surrounded by opposing Roman style dolphins, bullrushes and roses.
French, mid 19th century.
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Width |
Height |
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37 13⁄16"
96 cms |
61 13⁄16"
157 cms |
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Stock: 16038
A pair of gilt gesso oval wall mirrors, in the Adam style, each surmounted with an urn above a bevelled plate.
English, early 20th century.
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Width |
Height |
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12 3⁄16"
31 cms |
31 1⁄2"
80 cms |
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Listed Price: £750 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 15820
A fine William IV horizontal overmantle mirror with a giltwood reeded frame with acanthus capital corners and ebonised slips. With original silvered mirror plate.
English, c.1830.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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52 3⁄8"
133 cms |
35 5⁄8"
90.5 cms |
3 7⁄8"
10 cms |
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Stock: 15973
A delicately carved gilt gesso wall mirror with a foliate frame in the Chippendale manner, with original mirror plate.
English mid 19th century.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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28 1⁄4"
72 cms |
52 5⁄8"
133.5 cms |
3 7⁄8"
10 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,800 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 15832
An exceptionally ornate yet delicate French gilt gesso overmantel mirror. The arched frame is decorated with floral garlands bound with ribbons and is surmounted by a bow tied floral wreath. This is flanked by two finials depicting birds. The original silvered mirror plate. French, c.1880.
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Width |
Height |
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48"
122 cms |
80 1⁄4"
204 cms |
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Stock: 15772
A George III style gilt gesso antique wall mirror. The broken swan neck pediment is centred by a shell motif. Beneath this, the mirror is framed by curtain like drapery and the pediment top is balanced by a scrolling foliate base. Original mirror plate.
English, c.1900.
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Width |
Height |
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28 1⁄2"
72.4 cms |
48"
121.9 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,950 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 15819
A late 19th century ebonised and parcel-gilt overmantel mirror. This Victorian mirror adopts French Louis XVI decorative motifs, such as the crossed quiver and torchere, but pairs this with a backdrop of gesso roses, very much in the English taste.
English, c.1880
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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39 13⁄16"
101 cms |
63"
160 cms |
3 1⁄2"
9 cms |
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Sold
Stock: 15803
A 19th century Rococo gilt gesso overmantel mirror, surmounted by shell set within foliate c scrolls and trailing flowers. The original bevelled mirror plate sits within a moulded frame.
French, c.1890.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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34 1⁄8"
86.5 cms |
60"
152.5 cms |
5 1⁄8"
13 cms |
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Stock: 15804
A large Napoleon III antique mirror in parcel gilt, the bound laurel border to the frame is picked out in cream, as are the fine beads which surround the mirror plate and the laurel leaves and crest surmounting the frame.
French, c.1870.
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Width |
Height |
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42 7⁄8"
109 cms |
61 3⁄8"
156 cms |
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Listed Price: £4,500 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15802
A large French overmantel gilt gesso mirror with an arched scroll pediment. The frame is decorated with bound laurel and rope twist mouldings, edged with fine beading. There is a fragment of a manufacturer's label to the verso, which dates the mirror to September 12th, 1876. The silvered plate is original.
French, 1876.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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44 1⁄2"
113 cms |
70 1⁄2"
179 cms |
5 1⁄2"
14 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,800 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15797
An elegant French 19th century giltwood overmantel mirror in the Louis Philippe style, surmounted by a cartouche of rocaille design mounted above rounded corners. The frame has been beautifully gilded and is embellished by a floral ribbon design which wraps around the rounded frame of the mirror. Original mercury mirror plate.
French, c.1860.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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38 5⁄8"
98 cms |
64 5⁄8"
164 cms |
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Stock: 15805
A large and fine gilt gesso overmantel mirror with an arched pediment centred by a floral rosette and laurel sprays. This is supported by two fine columns. This mirror is of excellent quality, with a sturdy panelled back.
English, c.1880.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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61"
155 cms |
70 1⁄8"
178 cms |
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Listed Price: £5,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 15796
A large 19th century Baroque style gilt and gesso wall mirror, with a cushion margin comprising of four beveled plates of glass framing the large beveled central plate. The gilt gesso frame is surmounted by a cartouche set within a naturalistic broken pediment, from which emanate foliate scrolls. This detail is echoed in the foliate corners.
English, c.1860.
The frame is gilded and has its original worn finish, with the red ground showing under the gold leaf.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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42 1⁄2"
108 cms |
53 7⁄8"
137 cms |
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Stock: 15795
An early 20th century Adam Revival gilt framed mirror. This mirror embodies the light architectural quality of the neoclassical style and is surmounted by an urn which stands above an arched pediment, fashioned as a fan light. The main mirror is framed by two small mirror plates, which are contained by thin Corinthian pilasters bound by ribbons.
English, c.1930.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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27 5⁄8"
70 cms |
48 3⁄8"
123 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,800 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15762
A George III style wall mirror, its giltwood and gesso frame very much in the Chippendale manner, topped with a broken pediment surmounted by an urn. Down the side run naturalistic foliate and floral decorations. Original bevelled mirror plate.
English, c.1890.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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22 3⁄8"
57 cms |
40 5⁄8"
103 cms |
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Stock: 15751
A bold and dramatic Regency Convex Mirror gilt wall mirror surmounted by an eagle perched on a rocky outcrop. The convex mirror plate is framed by a reeded ebonised slip and small gilded balls around the frame. At the very bottom of the frame is an unusual ruffled decoration.
English, c. 1820.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| Overall |
24 13⁄16"
63 cms |
40 7⁄8"
104 cms |
4 11⁄16"
12 cms |
| Glass dimeter |
17 1⁄2"
44.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,200 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15776
A late 19th century wall mirror with marginal cushion plates, surmounted by a Rococo motif and bordered by a gilt gesso frame with low relief foliate scrollwork and projecting corners.
English, c.1890.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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37 5⁄8"
95.5 cms |
53 7⁄8"
137 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,500 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15643
A Reflection of American History -
An ornate convex mirror of grand proportions topped with an eagle on a rocky summit.
Interestingly the mirror, thought to be of American origins, is decorated with 24 spheres around the frame, whilst another sphere hangs on a chain suspended from the mouth of the eagle. This possibly symbolises the 24 established states of the USA, with the state of Arkansas represented by a ball hanging from the mouth of the eagle, the country's emblem. This shows that Arkansas joining the USA is quite literally hanging in the balance.
With this information, we can date the mirror to 1835-1836.
American, 1836. Awaiting restoration, included in the price.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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23 5⁄8"
60 cms |
42 7⁄8"
109 cms |
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Sold
Stock: 15640
A grand 19th century French giltwood and gesso wall mirror or overmantel mirror in the Louis XVI style. The mirror is surmounted by a floral garland and crossed quiver and torch, either side of which are mounted flaming urns. The central mirror plate is bordered by 4 marginal plates for added decorative value. A beautiful mirror that would work as either a wall or an overmantel mirror.
French, c.1860.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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37"
94 cms |
65"
165 cms |
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Antique mirrors
There is something alluring about an antique mirror - perhaps the combination of a finely carved frame and the shimmering surface of original glass - that has led to their enduring appeal amongst antique furniture collectors.
A short history of antique mirrors
The earliest mirrored glass was made in Murano in the 16th century, where glass was coated in mercury and tin to create a silver reflective layer on its reverse. This process was a closely guarded secret, and spies were sent from the French court of Louis XIV to Venice to discover the process. Their efforts paid off, and the French became renowned producers in their own right. Antique mirrors were made using mercury glass until other safer methods of manufacture became more widely available in the 19th century.
Earlier antique mirrors also tend to be slightly smaller, or made with separate panels of mirrored glass, as there was not the technology to produce single sheets of large glass until the late 18th century. Only the very wealthy could afford very large panes of glass, so mirrors were objects of prestige and magnificence.
Varieties of antique mirror
Whether an antique wall mirror, an overmantel mirror or a pier mirror, it is often the frame that catches the eye. Particularly fine mirrors are carved from mahogany or rosewood, or gilded using gold leaf, rather than paint. Mirror frames tend to be made of carved wood or carved wood and gesso. They are called giltwood mirrors if a thin layer of gold leaf has been applied over the carved and primed surface. Such mirrors exude quality and vary from bright gold through to a more worn, soft patina. An antique gilded mirror is often deemed more valuable than its wooden counterpart and is seen as a timeless addition to interiors of all styles.
Eras of antique mirror
Antique overmantle mirrors embody the elegance of a period home, and can inject both sophistication and character into an interior. Victorian mirrors often come in overmantel form, as in 19th century England, the mantelpiece was the heart of the home, a space to display precious objects and convey taste. The earlier Regency overmantel mirrors were often horizontal in form and more modest in design. Victorian mirrors were not only gilt, but often carved from wood such as oak, mahogany and rosewood.
In France the overmantel mirror was similarly significant, and in many cases, much taller, utilising the space above the fireplace enabled by higher ceilings and grand rooms. These Antique French mirrors are usually gilded, and wood was not widely used without a gilded adornment.
Often smaller, antique wall mirrors are an excellent thing to hang above a piece of furniture or in a hallway, where they can create the illusion of a larger, lighter space. They are less dominant than an overmantel, and serve a function in rooms such as bedrooms or hallways.
If you are looking for an overmantel or any Antique mirrors London is the place to look. Our showroom has numerous options all on display for you to browse, from early Georgian wall mirrors through to large Aesthetic movement overmantels.