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ID #SA1071649
FOR SALE
£4,800
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Large Restored Oval Victorian Overmantle Mirror
For sale by AJD Antiques
for sale €5,616     $6,096
£4,800
AJD Antiques

AJD Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2010
Browse dealers 166 items
  • About Us
    Founder of ajd antiques, jonathan dyas has a life-long passion for sourcing and returning to the market an eclectic range of antiques.
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Id #SA1071649
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Large Restored Oval Victorian Overmantle Mirror

19th century
For Sale by AJD Antiques
Description

This rare oval mirror has just been completely restored and re-gilded by Ruth Tappin.

Please see her latest video on YouTube showing the restoration in progress; water gilding the decoration with 23.75ct gold leaf and oil gilding with 23.5ct gold leaf, then burnishing and ageing the result.

The mirror was an original fitting for a house that was finished in 1865.

Extremely elegant and representing the height of Victorian design, this substantial overmantel is decorated with a shell and foliage headpiece, the oval with balls and stars, standing on a flared base with side mirrors surrounded by leaf and branch supports. The plates are original, and as can be seen in the pictures, there is some mild foxing.

Size:

Height - 66.25" (169cm)

Width of Base - 51.5" (131cm)

Width of the Oval - 45" (115cm)

Glass - Height - 55" (140cm) Width - 39.5" (100cm)

Date of Manufacture

AJD Antiques has dated this Victorian Gilt Overmantel Mirror to the 1860s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
169cm (66.54")
Width
131cm (51.57")
Depth
8cm (3.15")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1071649
Dealers Internal Reference
32445
Description
This rare oval mirror has just been completely restored and re-gilded by Ruth Tappin.
“
Please see her latest video on YouTube showing the restoration in progress; water gilding the decoration with 23.
AJD Antiques

75ct gold leaf and oil gilding with 23.5ct gold leaf, then burnishing and ageing the result.

fig 1. Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest.
fig 1. Large Restored Oval Victorian Overmantle Mirror

The mirror was an original fitting for a house that was finished in 1865.

Extremely elegant and representing the height of Victorian design, this substantial overmantel is decorated with a shell and foliage headpiece, the oval with balls and stars, standing on a flared base with side mirrors surrounded by leaf and branch supports. The plates are original, and as can be seen in the pictures, there is some mild foxing.

Size:

Height - 66.25" (169cm)

Width of Base - 51.5" (131cm)

Width of the Oval - 45" (115cm)

Glass - Height - 55" (140cm) Width - 39.5" (100cm)

Date of Manufacture

AJD Antiques has dated this Victorian Gilt Overmantel Mirror to the 1860s.

Height
169cm (66.54")
Width
131cm (51.57")
Depth
8cm (3.15")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1071649
Dealers Internal Ref
32445
AJD Antiques
AJD Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2010

Founder of ajd antiques, jonathan dyas has a life-long passion for sourcing and returning to the market an eclectic range of antiques.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the AJD Antiques Profile Page

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Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest.
1 / 15
Archive I Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest.

Large Restored Oval Victorian Overmantle Mirror

Archive II Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View II
Archive III Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View III
Archive IV Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View IV
Archive V Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View V
Archive VI Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View VI
Archive VII Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View VII
Archive VIII Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View VIII
Archive IX Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View IX
Archive X Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View X
Archive XI Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View XI
Archive XII Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View XII
Archive XIII Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View XIII
Archive XIV Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View XIV
Archive XV Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest. View XV
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AJD Antiques

AJD Antiques
Telephone 020 8563 0120 or 07976 439556
Location
West London
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/ajd
Verified Since Feb 2010
Items For Sale 166
Items Sold 589
AJD Antiques
AJD Antiques
Verified Since Feb 2010
View Dealer Info
Location: West London, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/ajd
Verified
Feb 2010
For Sale
166
Sold
589
Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest.
Large Restored Oval Victorian Overmantle Mirror
Ref: SA1071649
Large Victorian oval overmantel mirror featuring a gilded frame with star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and an acanthus crest.
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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectOvermantel Mirrors
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialGiltwood, Gesso, Glass
  • ColourGold
  • MotifsAcanthus leaf crest, Star motifs, Scrollwork base brackets, Beaded moulding
  • SizeH 169 cm (67 in) x W 131 cm (52 in) x D 8 cm (3 in)

This large Victorian overmantel mirror dates from 1860 in a French Chateau style, measuring 169 cm high, 131 cm wide, and 8 cm deep. The piece is constructed from giltwood, gesso, and glass with a gold finish, showing an acanthus leaf crest, star motifs, scrollwork base brackets, and beaded moulding. The frame displays relief carvings of stars along the oval edge, a prominent carved shell motif at the top headpiece, and decorative scrollwork brackets supporting the base. Inside a home today, this overmantel mirror is designed to be positioned above the mantel in a principal reception room or drawing room. The large reflective surface is bordered by side mirrors on the flared base, presenting original glass plates with mild foxing visible across the surface. The restored gold-leaf structure provides a substantial architectural element for placement over a traditional fireplace.

FAQs

An overmantel mirror is a decorative mirror designed specifically to sit or hang directly above a fireplace mantelpiece. Popularised during the Victorian era, these mirrors were crafted to fill the architectural expanse above chimneypieces while reflecting candlelight and natural room light.

Victorian giltwood mirrors were typically constructed from pine or lime wood foundations, coated with layers of gesso (a plaster mixture) and clay bole, and finished with thin sheets of gold leaf. The decorative detailing often incorporated composition ornament applied to the wooden frame before gilding.

Authentic period pieces feature solid timber backboards, often held in place with old iron nails, and display subtle surface cracking or craquelure in the gesso layer. The gilding may show gentle wear exposing the reddish or dark clay bole underneath, and original mirror plates may show minor silvering oxidation or foxing.

An overmantel mirror functions as a focal point when mounted above a fireplace chimneypiece, radiator cover, or substantial console table. Pairing the classic metallic frame with minimalist architectural surrounds or dark painted walls creates a balanced visual contrast between historic detail and modern design.

Dust giltwood frames gently using a soft, dry camel-hair brush, avoiding cloth which can snag delicate raised ornamentation. Never use water, liquid solvents, or commercial glass cleaners on water-gilded surfaces, as moisture will dissolve the underlying gesso and strip the gold leaf layer.
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