5,390  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY 0  ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAY NEW ARRIVALS
ID #SA1209538
FOR SALE
£1,350
Email
Save
C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).
White Space Antiques
for sale €1,580     $1,715
£1,350
White Space Antiques

White Space Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2026
View Dealers Stock Page
  • About Us
    Curate your white space
Id #SA1209538
PDF SHARE
SAVE

C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).

1900 - 1920
Description

C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).

Two large examples of English fairground mirrors, one convex and one concave, dating to the early 20th century. It would appear that both mirrors may have originally been light blue as there are traces of blue coming through the black edges. The frames are counstructed of ebonised pine and the mirrors appear to be an adhesive film, with age to them.

** Price is for the pair.

A house, or hall of mirrors is a traditional attraction at funfairs and amusement parks; the basic concept, a maze-like puzzle. The mirrors may be distorted because of different curves, convex or concave, to give the participants unusual and confusing reflections of themselves to be either humorous or frightening.

The origins of the house of mirrors stem from the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. Upon a visit to France to discuss colonial land agreements, Peter Stuyvesant arrived at the Palace of Versailles and gazed upon the hall of mirrors present in the palace. Peter became determined to bring this amazement to the newly founded colonial city of New Amsterdam, of which he was governor. Peter Stuyvesant's House of Mirrors was founded in 1651 and he charged one Dutch gulden for admission.

CONDITION:

Signs of age. Frame is solid. Paint in good condition. Mirrored film has some foxing. No major scratches.

COLLECTION:

Buyer must collect, or arrange collection, from Westbury, Wiltshire.

WEBSITE:

For more information and more detailed images, please visit our website:

https://www.WhiteSpaceAntiques.com

Physical Dimensions
Height
189cm (74.41")
Width
88cm (34.65")
Depth
14cm (5.51")
Declaration

White Space Antiques has dated this Distorted Fairground Mirror Pair to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1209538
Description
C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).
Two large examples of English fairground mirrors, one convex and one concave, dating to the early 20th century.
White Space Antiques

It would appear that both mirrors may have originally been light blue as there are traces of blue coming through the black edges. The frames are counstructed of ebonised pine and the mirrors appear to be an adhesive film, with age to them.

fig 1. A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass.
fig 1. C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).

Price is for the pair.

A house, or hall of mirrors is a traditional attraction at funfairs and amusement parks; the basic concept, a maze-like puzzle. The mirrors may be distorted because of different curves, convex or concave, to give the participants unusual and confusing reflections of themselves to be either humorous or frightening.

fig 2. A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass.
fig 2. C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).

The origins of the house of mirrors stem from the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. Upon a visit to France to discuss colonial land agreements, Peter Stuyvesant arrived at the Palace of Versailles and gazed upon the hall of mirrors present in the palace. Peter became determined to bring this amazement to the newly founded colonial city of New Amsterdam, of which he was governor. Peter Stuyvesant's House of Mirrors was founded in 1651 and he charged one Dutch gulden for admission.

CONDITION:

Signs of age. Frame is solid. Paint in good condition. Mirrored film has some foxing. No major scratches.

COLLECTION:

Buyer must collect, or arrange collection, from Westbury, Wiltshire.

WEBSITE:

For more information and more detailed images, please visit our website:

https://www.WhiteSpaceAntiques.com

Height
189cm (74.41")
Width
88cm (34.65")
Depth
14cm (5.51")
Date of Manufacture

White Space Antiques has dated this Distorted Fairground Mirror Pair to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1209538
White Space Antiques
White Space Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2026

Curate your white space

Dealer Profile

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

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass.
1 / 3
Archive I A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass.

C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).

Archive II A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass. View II
Archive III A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass. View III
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 07760 835542
Location
Westbury
Wiltshire
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Verified Since Feb 2026
Items For Sale 84
Items Sold 19
White Space Antiques
White Space Antiques
Verified Since Feb 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Verified
Feb 2026
For Sale
84
Sold
19
A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass.
C. 1920, Pair of Large Distorted Fairground Mirrors (English).
Ref: SA1209538
A pair of tall rectangular wall mirrors with dark painted wooden frames and distorted curved glass.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Fairground distorted mirrors, often known as funhouse or laughing mirrors, were popular attractions in early 20th-century amusement parks and travelling carnivals. They feature specially curved glass or silvered plates engineered to warp, elongate, or compress the reflection of the viewer.

These mirrors were typically crafted using heavy glass plates shaped over custom moulds before silvering, or polished sheet metal fitted into sturdy timber frames. The frames were often constructed from hard-wearing painted softwoods or hardwoods designed to withstand frequent transport and fairground environments.

Authentic examples usually feature hand-silvered glass showing signs of natural foxing, desilverisation, or minor surface variations. Original mounting hardware, hand-cut joinery on heavy wooden frames, and historical wear along the rear panels further confirm period authenticity.

A pair of fairground mirrors creates a striking sculptural feature on a hallway wall, in an eclectic dining space, or along a staircase landing. Their optical distortion adds light reflection and movement, functioning as focal statement art in maximalist or industrial-themed interiors.

Clean the glass surfaces using a soft dry or slightly dampened microfibre cloth, avoiding harsh chemical sprays near the frame joints. Dust the timber frames regularly and ensure the backing panels remain dry to protect the delicate reflective layer from moisture degradation.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Movements
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Freshness
Online Payments
Categories