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: 15633
An elegant and simple William IV overmantel mirror with reeded ebonised 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 |
47 3⁄16"
120 cms |
5 11⁄16"
14.5 cms |
28 13⁄16"
73.2 cms |
| Bottom |
42 7⁄8"
109 cms |
4 1⁄8"
10.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16309
A late Victorian gilt and gesso overmantel mirror in the neoclassical taste.
English, late 19th century.
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Width |
Height |
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44 1⁄2"
113 cms |
56 1⁄4"
143 cms |
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Stock: 16624
A charming Victorian giltwood overmantel mirror, the arched frame mounted with an acanthine and shell surmount, this decoration is echoed on the bottom of the frame. English, c.1860.
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Width |
Height |
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40 7⁄8"
104 cms |
65 11⁄16"
167 cms |
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Stock: 16657
A large Regency Period convex wall mirror, having a reeded ebony border and applied ball decoration, within an ornate gilt gesso surround modelled as scrolling acanthus leaves.
English, c.1820.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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29 7⁄8"
76 cms |
49 13⁄16"
126.5 cms |
3 1⁄4"
8.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16042
A fine French 18th century Louis XVI gilt gesso mirror, with a beaded slip and trailing leaves decorating the frame. There is a beautifully modelled laurel ribboned garland centred by a quiver of arrows and a trophies of war to the surmount. This detail perhaps alludes to the unrest in France at the end of the 18th century.
French, c.1780.
Original gilding but a later mirror plate.
Provenance: From the estate of the late Marguerite Littman.
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Width |
Height |
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32 1⁄4"
82 cms |
69 13⁄16"
177.2 cms |
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Listed Price: £4,000 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16699
A fine French Louis XVI gilt gesso overmantel mirror with an elegant tongue and dart moulding to the frame, which is beautifully burnished so to contrast with the matte gilding which borders it. This is surmounted by a spray of olive leaves and a corbel cartouche. The fine frame encloses a crisply bevelled mirror plate.
French, mid-19th century.
Provenance: The Grange, Wendover.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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46 1⁄8"
117 cms |
68 7⁄8"
175 cms |
4 11⁄16"
12 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16689
A fine and ornate giltwood Louis XVI overmantel mirror profusely decorated with floral swags and sprays of laurel and surmounted by an urnular crest filled with flowers.
French, mid-19th century.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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38 13⁄16"
98.5 cms |
68 11⁄16"
174.5 cms |
3 1⁄2"
9 cms |
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Listed Price: £4,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16652
A 19th century French giltwood overmantel mirror with a Rococo foliate surmount above a cushion moulded, ogee frame. This encloses the crisp bevelled glass. A very elegant mirror.
French, late 19th century.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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37 3⁄8"
95 cms |
57 1⁄8"
145 cms |
5 1⁄4"
13.5 cms |
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| Outer footblock |
72 3⁄8"
184 cms |
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Stock: 16618
A fine Louis-Philippe overmantel gilt gesso mirror. The surmount is decorated with a flaming torch, a quiver of arrows and a laurel wreath, and is mounted on an elegant frame, with a slightly distressed gilded finish showing traces of the red bole underneath. The frame is further decorated with a Greek key pattern embossed on the surface.
French, mid-19th century.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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36 3⁄16"
92 cms |
55 7⁄8"
142 cms |
7 7⁄8"
20 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,800 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16651
A beautiful French oval wall mirror, the egg and dart frame enclosing a bevelled plate, and topped with a Rococo surmount and trailing flowers. The gilding has been rubbed back to give it a soft glow of warmth from the red bole underneath.
French, mid-19th century.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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23 3⁄16"
59 cms |
36 5⁄8"
93 cms |
4 11⁄16"
12 cms |
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Stock: 9515
A large and grand finely carved oak mirror in the Chippendale Rococo manner, with shell, rocaille floral and scroll work typical of the period. English, 19th century.
Link to: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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82 11⁄16"
210 cms |
70 7⁄8"
180 cms |
5 1⁄8"
13 cms |
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Listed Price: £5,200 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16623
A 19th century Rococo gilt gesso wall mirror of modest proportions, with a c scroll surmount surrounded by foliate scrollwork.
French, mid-19th century.
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Width |
Height |
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25 5⁄8"
65 cms |
43 1⁄4"
110 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,600 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16559
A grand late Regency overmantel mirror of exceptional quality. The giltwood frame is richly embellished with acanthine and scrollwork decoration, with a particularly magnificent crest. This encloses the original silvered plate.
English, c.1810.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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60"
152.5 cms |
72 3⁄8"
184 cms |
4 11⁄16"
12 cms |
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Listed Price: £6,000 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16541
An exceptionally fine and rare pair of Venetian giltwood mirrors or pier glasses. Mirrors of this type, especially those in an original pair are vanishingly rare. Their gilded giltwood frames take an organic form, the whole carved with rocaille, c-scrolls and floral embellishments, with a mirrored rocaille crest. This Rococo design encloses the more traditional frames that are the signature of the Venetian style, which in turn borders the most magnificently patinated original mercury plates.
Italian, c.1760.
Provenance: From a palazzo in Venice.
Notes: It is likely that this pair of mirrors was made on the island of Murano, known as the 'Isle of Glass'. It has been the centre of fine glassmaking for centuries.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| Each |
39 3⁄8"
100 cms |
54 1⁄2"
138.5 cms |
5 7⁄8"
15 cms |
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Listed Price: £26,000 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16519
An interesting Louis Philippe period overmantel mirror with an elegant water gilded frame, enclosing a mercury plate. The frame is topped by a later surmount, ornately carved with ribbon tied wheat, vines and fruit, centred by an urn.
French, mid-19th century and later.
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Width |
Height |
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28 1⁄4"
72 cms |
66 1⁄8"
168 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,800 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16522
A fine and large Irish William IV convex mirror. The original convex plate is enclosed within a reeded slip, which is bordered by an ornate giltwood frame which is mounted with acanthus scrollwork, bunches of grapes, a sunflower and twin candleholders. Most unusually, the surmount depicts a stag resting under an oak tree. Mounted with wired girandoles.
Irish, c.1830.
Similar to stock no. 16491.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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25 5⁄8"
65 cms |
47 3⁄16"
120 cms |
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Listed Price: £4,600 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16515
A fine and exceptionally large George IV giltwood overmantle mirror. The water gilded frame is enriched with deeply carved stylised scrolling foliage and simple half round mouldings, all set below the boldly carved cornice. The gilded carving is enhanced with burnished highlights and to the back the substantial frame encloses a panelled back board.
English, circa 1820.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| top |
73 3⁄8"
186.5 cms |
72 3⁄8"
184 cms |
3 7⁄8"
10 cms |
| bottom |
75 1⁄8"
190.7 cms |
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Listed Price: £8,000 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16510
A very fine early George III giltwood wall mirror in the manner of John Linnell (1729–96). The oval mercury mirror plate is framed by an exquisitely carved frame of foliate design, surmounted by a rocaille cartouche which is echoed on the bottom of the mirror, which terminates in a similar fashion.
English, circa 1740.
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Width |
Height |
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27 5⁄8"
70 cms |
39 3⁄8"
100 cms |
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Listed Price: £6,500 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16503
An exceptionally fine eighteenth-century Piedmontese pier mirror. The ornately moulded frame is surmounted by elaborate scrolling foliate surmount, which looms over the mirror plate. The wonderfully foxed mercury mirror plate is framed by a slender mercury glass marginal plate with applied floral paterae decoration. The frame rests on outswept feet, to support it on a console, mantel or similar.
Italian, mid-18th century, Piedmont with restorations.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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37 3⁄8"
95 cms |
79 7⁄8"
203 cms |
4 11⁄16"
12 cms |
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Listed Price: £9,500 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16501
A very large and grand Venetian overmantel mirror. The frame is profusely decorated with c scrolls and floral flourishes, and is surmounted by a mirrored cartouche with a rocaille surmount. The original gilding is beautifully worn, with the warm red bole glowing through.
Italian, 19th century.
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width |
height |
depth |
| top |
49 3⁄16"
125 cms |
70 7⁄8"
180 cms |
6 1⁄4"
16 cms |
| bottom |
36 5⁄8"
93 cms |
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Stock: 16108
A tall and elegant early Victorian overmantel gilt gesso mirror with a slender pilastered framed, and a ribboned pediment surmount.
English, c.1850.
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Width |
Height |
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54 1⁄4"
138 cms |
70 1⁄4"
178.5 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,800 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 15998
A late 19th century French gilt gesso wall mirror, with a pierced scrolled pediment and shell surmount, fitted with a bevelled central plate, flanked by angled marginal mirror plates.
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Width |
Height |
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27 3⁄16"
69 cms |
49 5⁄8"
126 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,400 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16191
The most charming gilt gesso mirrored hanging shelves. The arched mirror plate is beautifully adorned with ferns, convolvulus and foxgloves that are exquisitely modelled around the frame. The rods supporting the three shelves terminate in foxglove flowerheads.
The shelves embody the Victorian obsession with ferns, in a period known as the 'fern craze'; which saw a widespread fascination in identifying, collecting and cultivating the plant.
English, mid-19th century.
Near pair with stock no. 16190.
Photo before restoration.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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18 1⁄8"
46 cms |
33 7⁄8"
86 cms |
6 11⁄16"
17 cms |
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Listed Price: £1,100 (+VAT where applicable)
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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 |
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40 5⁄8"
103 cms |
59 3⁄8"
150.8 cms |
3 1⁄8"
8 cms |
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Stock: 16491
A fine Irish Regency convex mirror. The original convex plate is enclosed within a reeded ebony slip, which is bordered by an ornate giltwood ropetwist frame and mounted with acanthus scrollwork and twin candleholders. Most unusually, the surmount depicts a stag resting under an oak tree.
Irish, c.1820.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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24 3⁄8"
62 cms |
38 5⁄8"
98 cms |
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Listed Price: £4,600 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16469
A fine George III giltwood and gesso wall mirror in the Chinese Chippendale style. The rectangular mirror plate is enclosed by a delicate frame embellished with c scrolls and trailing garlands, surmounted by a palm leaf pagoda.
English, c.1765.
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Width |
Height |
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27 3⁄16"
69 cms |
46 7⁄8"
119 cms |
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Listed Price: £7,900 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16317
A very large and grand Victorian Aesthetic Movement gilt gesso overmantel mirror. The top of the mirror is surmounted by a latticed gallery very much in the Aesthetic Movement taste, with a broken pediment. This is mounted over a bold egg and dart moulding, and supported on slender spindle pilasters with foliate capitals, which enclose foliate spandrels and a silvered plate.
English, c.1880.
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Width |
Height |
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62 3⁄16"
158 cms |
71 11⁄16"
182 cms |
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Stock: 16485
A very fine George III wall mirror, with a delicate giltwood frame embodying the lightness of the Chippendale style, with slender c scrolls, trailing foliage and an elegant crest. The frame encloses a very foxed mercury plate.
English, c.1760.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
28"
71 cms |
46 1⁄2"
118 cms |
2 3⁄8"
6 cms |
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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.
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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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Stock: 16468
A very unusual George III Rococo wall mirror. The giltwood frame is carved with a wonderfully organic design, with foliate flourishes, trailing flowers and fruit, but the most unusual detail being the asymmetrical interlocking c scrolls to the lower portion of the frame.
English, c.1770.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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23 5⁄8"
60 cms |
51 5⁄8"
131 cms |
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Listed Price: £6,800 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16258
A large and ornate gilt gesso Louis XVI style wall mirror with a shield shaped frame,
profusely decorated with a bound laurel decoration, with applied floral swags and surmounted by a torchere and quiver crest.
French, c.1880.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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28 11⁄16"
73 cms |
55 1⁄8"
140 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,200 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16473
A charming eighteenth century wall mirror with an ogee shaped giltwood frame, surmounted by a foliate and floral crest comprising oak leaves and roses. These trail over the scrolled shoulders, the rest of the frame decorated with cross hatching. This encloses a mercury plate.
Southern French, mid-18th century.
Provenance: The contents of The Birches, Kingston-upon-Thames
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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19 1⁄4"
49 cms |
38 3⁄16"
97 cms |
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Listed Price: £4,200 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16187
A very large Victorian gilt gesso overmantel mirror, with ribbed border and floral mounts. The gilding is beautiful, with the warm red bole showing through.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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45 11⁄16"
116 cms |
67 7⁄8"
172.5 cms |
3 1⁄8"
8 cms |
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Listed Price: £3,200 (+VAT where applicable)
More info?
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Stock: 16470
A pair of ornate French giltwood wall mirrors. The shield shaped frames are ornately worked with acanthus scrolls and enclose marginal plates in mercury glass.
French, c.1800.
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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22"
56 cms |
35 13⁄16"
91 cms |
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Listed Price: £2,400 (+VAT where applicable)
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Stock: 16442
A large French overmantel mirror with marginal plates. The gilt gesso mirror has a beautifully bronzed patination to the ornate frame, which encloses the original silvered plate, and the slender marginal plates that surround it. The frame itself is surmounted by a floral and foliate pediment.
French, mid-19th century,
View our collection of: Antique mirrors and console tables
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Width |
Height |
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44 1⁄8"
112 cms |
65 3⁄8"
166 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.