What is a 1920s vanity mirror?

A 1920s vanity mirror is a dressing accessory or furniture glass produced during the 1920 or 1930 periods. These items include portable compacts, small table mirrors, and larger cheval mirrors. They were designed for personal grooming and domestic dressing rooms, incorporating materials characteristic of the interwar decorative arts.

How do I date a vanity mirror from this period?

Dating these objects relies on identifying stylistic markers such as Art Deco geometric forms or Jacobean Revival turned woodwork. Hallmarks on silver components or makers' stamps on compacts also provide precise manufacturing years. Construction methods and material combinations help distinguish pieces made around 1920 from later Edwardian survivals.

Where were these mirrors used?

These mirrors were primarily utilised in bedrooms and dressing rooms on top of chests of drawers or dedicated dressing tables. Portable versions such as compacts and vanity cases were carried by women for daily use. Freestanding cheval mirrors occupied larger floor spaces in domestic dressing areas to provide full-length reflections.

How do I care for antique glass and metal?

Antique glass and metal require gentle cleaning with soft cloths to preserve reflective surfaces and protective platings. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that can damage delicate enamel work or strip patinated brass. Wooden frames benefit from occasional treatment suited to period timbers like oak or mahogany to maintain their finish.