How do you clean the original glass?

Use a soft cotton cloth lightly dampened with water. Wipe the surface gently to remove dust and fingerprints, then dry it immediately with a second clean cloth. Commercial window sprays often contain ammonia. This liquid can seep behind the wooden frame and damage the fragile historic silvering on the back of the plate.

I have noticed that the brass handles on the side of the mirror frame keep slipping when I try to tilt it back, is this normal?

The friction hinges on an antique cheval mirror rely on tight wooden threads or metal washers to hold the heavy plate at an angle. Over time, these components wear down from constant movement. Sometimes a small felt or leather washer placed behind the brass knob provides enough grip to hold the glass steady.

Can the swinging mirror be removed?

Most plates sit on brass pivot pins slotted directly into the upright posts. You can usually lift the entire framed glass straight up and out of the supporting brackets. This makes moving the heavy antique much safer. Always have a second person help lift the frame to avoid snapping the brass pins.

We are looking to put one of these large mirrors in our guest bedroom, but the floor is quite uneven, will it easily tip over?

Antique cheval mirrors are heavy pieces of furniture with a high centre of gravity. A sloped floor can make them unstable, especially if the original brass castors run freely. Positioning the base against a wall helps. You might also rest the castors in small rubber caster cups to level the stance and stop unwanted rolling.

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Antique Cheval Mirrors

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A tall, freestanding dressing glass suspended within a wooden frame on a pair of upright supports. Evolving in the late eighteenth century, antique cheval mirrors allowed people to view their full length while dressing in the bedchamber.