Which walnut mirror form turns up most often?

Hanging wall mirrors. About a fifth of titles say simply wall mirror, and together with overmantels, pier glasses and framed wall pieces they account for roughly a third of the category. Cheval mirrors follow as the most identifiable named form, and dressing and toilet mirrors make up another block of similar size.

Why do so many say Georgian but date to the 1920s?

Walnut came back into favour as a mirror timber in the early twentieth century, used for frames in earlier styles. The title names the style; the date field gives the making. That's why titles reading Queen Anne, George I or George II sometimes carry dates of 1900 to 1930. Seventeen titles use the word revival outright. The dated field on Sellingantiques runs from 1700 to 1930, with 409 listings carrying a clean year rather than a vague label.

What does parcel gilt mean on a walnut frame?

Partly gilded. The gilding sits on selected mouldings, carving or crests, leaving the walnut visible elsewhere. It appears in 56 titles, with gilt more broadly in 113. Walnut and parcel gilt wall and pier mirrors are among the highest-priced examples sampled.

Are burr walnut mirrors different from plain walnut?

Burr walnut is veneer cut from a burr growth, giving a dense swirling figure. It shows up in 71 titles, with figured walnut in another 19. Burr, figured, marquetry and inlaid frames sit above plain walnut-framed mirrors in the range.

How large do these mirrors get?

The largest described run to eight feet. Huge, massive and full length recur among the biggest wall and floor mirrors. At the other end, small toilet and table mirrors on box bases are common, and small appears in a handful of titles.

Do any unusual one-off shapes come up?

Yes, though only occasionally. A portable campaign shaving kit mirror, a horseshoe-shaped hall mirror, a tailor's shop mirror and a cloakroom mirror with a towel rail have all appeared. Carved animal and heraldic frames surface now and then: eagles, mythical birds, a HoHo bird in the cresting, a heraldic shield. A few mirrors are set with painted oil panels of naval and equestrian subjects. Continental examples are scarce beside the English majority. French appears in 38 titles; Dutch, Italian and Black Forest pieces only a few times each.