Antique Mirrors and antique cheval mirror
antique mirrors were very rare up to the 1700s. As the production of mirrors improved more mirrors were made and larger mirrors were made. Very large mirrors were still very expensive but the smaller wall mounted mirrors or small tilting mirrors were cheap enough for people to buy. In larger upper class houses, mirrors of all kinds were designed and made, from smaller antique wall mirrors to pier mirrors and usually the grander mirrors would have gilding. Mahogany was the main wood used for the frames of mirrors due to the beautiful finish and the durability of the wood. Some antique mirrors have pediments on the top usually with a prominent central motif in the form of a spread eagle, or inlaid with a shell pattern.
As mirrors developed new styles were produced like the rococo and Chinese ornament to the mirrors frames and you would see Chinese designs like exotic birds, or some would come with gothic elements in the design. After these designs were produced more delicate designs became vogue as Adam and Hepplewhite, designed more delicately proportioned mirrors, oval and rectangular in shape, with simpler scrollwork with inlaid vase or similar classical motif. Adam prefered gilt work usually on a soft wood and hepplewhite usually used mahogany. Typical of the Sheraton and Regency periods was the circular gilt mirror, one to three feet in diameter.
Mahogany was widely used on antique mirrors and was the main wood used in an antique cheval mirror. In the early 1700s many antique dressing tables were designed with collapsible mirrors fitted into the tops of the tables, and this was also seen in some antique chests of drawers. Most common was a separate toilet mirror that would be free standing on a side table or washstand. Antique toilet mirrors ware basically smaller versions of the cheval mirror, with swing mirrors but these usually had small drawers. The antique cheval mirror was much larger and this is a much larger mirror stood between two upright supports with curving feet and a cross stretcher.
We get lots of quality pieces of antique furniture and some very very nice mirrors. This week we have a large antique William IV mahogany cheval mirror that has a large full length tilting mirror with a beautiful mahogany frame. The antique mirror has scrolled carved upright supports, a turned cross stretcher and stands on four beautiful scrolled carved feet.
