Antique Mirrors: Antique Wall & Overmantel Mirrors

A wide and varied selection of Antique Wall Mirrors, Fireplace Overmantel Mirrors and Period Giltwood and carved Mirrors.

  • Stock: 16486

    A striking Napoleon III ebonised and parcel gilt mirror, with a bound laurel frame and acanthus corners enclosing marginal plates. The mirror has a beautifully modelled cartouche and laurel surmount.

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    Width Height Depth
    40 58"
    103 cms
    59 38"
    150.8 cms
    3 18"
    8 cms
  • Stock: 16338

    A fine Louis XVI style gilt gesso overmantel mirror. The egg and dart frame encloses marginal plates and is surmounted by an ornate pediment of scrolling foliate decoration.
    Original mercury glass.

    French, mid 19th century.

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    Width Height Depth
    45 14"
    115 cms
    73 316"
    186 cms
    5 78"
    15 cms
  • Stock: 16344

    A fine and rare pair of 18th century George III wall mirrors with original mercury plates. Each plate is bordered by a giltwood frame of foliate design woven with c and s scrolls, very much in the Chippendale manner.

    It is very rare to come across such a fine pair of mirrors of this date.
    English, c.1760.

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    Width Height
    26 1316"
    68 cms
    49 58"
    126 cms
  • Stock: 16340

    A good 18th century Venetian mirror with original mercury plates. The gilded frame takes a loosely organic form and interprets the French Rococo style, with a rather more traditional frame boldly embellished with organic c scrolls and foliate flourishes.

    Venetian, c.1760.

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    Width Height Depth
    32 14"
    82 cms
    47 316"
    120 cms
    2 1316"
    7 cms
  • Stock: 16294

    A fine mid-eighteenth century Venetian giltwood wall mirror. The elegant mirror is profusely decorated with foliate c scrolls in the Rococo manner, with floral flourishes and an elegant finial above an additional mirror plate. With original mercury plates.

    Northern Italian, c.1760.

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    Width Height Depth
    36 1316"
    93.5 cms
    55 18"
    140 cms
    9 14"
    23.5 cms
  • Stock: 16225

    A large 19th century French overmantel mirror in the Rococo style. The generous frame has an unusual pie crust edge and is surmounted by a foliate crest in the Rococo manner.

    French, mid-19th century.

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    Width Height Depth
    38 58"
    98 cms
    70 12"
    179 cms
    5 12"
    14 cms
  • 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
    24"
    61 cms
    46 78"
    119 cms
  • 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
    30 14"
    77 cms
    53 78"
    137 cms
    1 58"
    4 cms
  • 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
    29 78"
    76 cms
    40 38"
    102.5 cms
    2 1316"
    7 cms
  • 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
    41 14"
    105 cms
    68 78"
    175 cms
    2 38"
    6 cms
  • 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
    30 14"
    77 cms
    49 316"
    125 cms
  • 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
    37"
    94 cms
    49 58"
    126 cms
    5 12"
    14 cms
  • 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
    18"
    45.8 cms
    33"
    83.8 cms
    2 1316"
    7 cms
  • 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
    29 12"
    75 cms
    50 38"
    128 cms
  • 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
    23 1316"
    60.5 cms
    28"
    71 cms
    1 58"
    4 cms
  • 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
    37 1316"
    96 cms
    61 1316"
    157 cms
  • 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.

    Width Height Depth
    52 38"
    133 cms
    35 58"
    90.5 cms
    3 78"
    10 cms
  • 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
    48"
    122 cms
    80 14"
    204 cms
  • 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
    39 1316"
    101 cms
    63"
    160 cms
    3 12"
    9 cms
  • 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
    34 18"
    86.5 cms
    60"
    152.5 cms
    5 18"
    13 cms
  • 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.

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    Width Height
    38 58"
    98 cms
    64 58"
    164 cms
  • 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.

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    Width Height
    42 12"
    108 cms
    53 78"
    137 cms
  • 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.

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    Width Height Depth
    22 38"
    57 cms
    40 58"
    103 cms
  • 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.

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    Width Height
    37 58"
    95.5 cms
    53 78"
    137 cms
  • 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.

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    Width Height
    23 58"
    60 cms
    42 78"
    109 cms
  • 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.

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    Width Height
    37"
    94 cms
    65"
    165 cms
  • Stock: 15628

    An elegant French Louis XVI gilt overmantel mirror with a simple egg and dart moulding, The mirror is surmounted by a crest framed by sprigs of laurel. The original mirror plate is bordered by an intricate beaded edge.
    French, c.1890.

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    Width Height Depth
    48"
    122 cms
    67 78"
    172.5 cms
    5 12"
    14 cms
  • Stock: 15632

    The Christmas Mirror.
    A late 19th century carved wood and gilt gesso Gothic Revival overmantel mirror, with moulded pin reeded borders and turned finials. The mirror is crowned by a hand-painted pediment which depicts a robin perched in a sprig of holly.
    English, c.1880.

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    Width Height Depth
    32 14"
    82 cms
    46 18"
    117 cms
  • Stock: 15526

    A Regency giltwood convex mirror surmounted by a ho-ho bird, wings outstretched its rocky perch. Foliate decoration springs from these rocks, which is echoed by the carved decoration to the bottom. The convex mirror plate is framed by gilded circular balls and ebonised wood to the inner edge. The mirror retains its original convex glass.

    English, c.1820

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    Width Height Depth
    20 1116"
    52.5 cms
    29 78"
    76 cms
    8 1116"
    22 cms
    Diameter 20 1116"
    52.5 cms
  • Stock: 15617

    A magnificent Louis XV Rococo gilt wall mirror of asymmetrical cartouche form, carved with a profusion of Rococo details. The mirror is surmounted by a shell and around the frame is craved an abundance of c-scrolls, flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves. This frames the elegantly beveled mirror plate.
    French, c.1890.

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    Width Height Width
    32 12"
    82.5 cms
    51 58"
    131 cms
    8 1116"
    22 cms
  • Stock: 15583

    An elegant oval gilt wall mirror, surmounted by a scrolling cartouche and a cascade of flowers. The egg and dart frame meets the original bevelled glass with a dainty beaded edge. The gilding has been rubbed back to give it a subtle glow.

    French, mid 19th century.

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    Width Height Depth
    29"
    73.7 cms
    42"
    106.7 cms
  • Stock: 15582

    A grand French Louis XVI gilded overmantel mirror with a cartouche forming the crest, from which emanate sprigs of loosely ribboned laurel. The rest of the frame is decorated with a tightly bound laurel design, very much in the French tradition. The gilding has been deliberately distressed to partially reveal the warm red ground.
    French, c.1880.

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    Width Height
    49 316"
    125 cms
    66 78"
    170 cms
  • Stock: 15546

    A Victorian giltwood overmantel mirror, with rounded corners and a carved surmount of Rococo form above the simple egg and dart frame. English, c.1880.

    Width Height
    42 18"
    107 cms
    65"
    165 cms
  • Stock: 15487

    A French gilt gesso wall mirror in the Louis XVI style, the crest centred by an oval cartouche which is bordered by a ribbon tied floral cascade and framed by two urn finials brimming with flowers. The gilt frame also features garlanded trophies and to the bottom, a lyre, a violin and sheet music. Original beveled mirror plates.

    French, c1850.

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    Width Height Depth
    36 38"
    92.5 cms
    54 14"
    138 cms
    5 18"
    13 cms
  • Stock: 15519

    A very fine English 19th century giltwood mirror in the Florentine manner, with a beautifully carved frame of scrolling acanthus leaves. Original mercury glass.

    English, c.1850.

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    Width Height
    31 78"
    81 cms
    42 78"
    109 cms
72 items

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.