Antique Style Pier Glass
These antique style pier glass pieces bring period elegance to tall wall spaces, offering the classic proportions and reflective depth that collectors seek.
Antique Style Pier Glass
An antique style pier glass sits traditionally on the narrow wall space between windows, known as the pier, often paired with matching console tables or cabinets.
The selections here encompass Georgian and Regency originals alongside Victorian and later revivals spanning the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries.
Forms range from tall rectangular wall mirrors and trumeau panels to carved giltwood pier mirrors featuring elaborate arched or shaped tops.
Materials and construction methods
Frames utilise carved wood, gesso, and giltwood or gold leaf, frequently employing mahogany and walnut veneers for structural depth.
Glazing relies on mirror glass and mercury glass plates, sometimes exhibiting natural foxing or reverse cut details.
Assessing craftsmanship and condition
The refinement of the hand-carved gesso and the crispness of the giltwood ornamentation separate masterwork frames from simpler commercial production.
The original integrity of the silvered mirror plate and the depth of the wood patina dictate the overall presence of the piece.
Gillows Of Lancaster
The Antique Style Pier Glass Glossary
- Pier glass
- A tall mirror designed specifically to hang on the wall space between two windows. It frequently reflects additional light into darker period rooms.
- Gesso
- A plaster-like material applied to wood frames before gilding. Carvers sculpt intricate decorative details directly into this layered surface.
- Trumeau
- A decorative wall mirror incorporating an oil painting or panel above the glass. These French pieces often integrate pastoral scenes.
- Parcel gilt
- Woodwork partially decorated with gold leaf while other areas reveal natural wood. This technique highlights specific carved mouldings.
- Mercury glass
- An early form of mirror glass created by pouring a silvering amalgam between double-walled blown glass. It produces a distinctive mottled reflection.
Antique Style Pier Glass: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pier glass?
A pier glass is a tall mirror traditionally hung on the narrow wall between two windows. It was designed to maximise natural light in formal rooms.
These mirrors often coordinate with console tables placed directly below them.
Where should I hang a pier glass?
These mirrors suit tall wall spaces, narrow hallways, or above mantelpieces and side cabinets. Their vertical proportions draw the eye upward.
Ensure adequate wall fixings to support the substantial weight of carved wood and gesso frames.
How do I identify period styles?
Georgian and Regency pieces display architectural symmetry and restrained carving. Later Victorian and revival pieces often favour exuberant Rococo or Neoclassical ornamentation.
Examining the construction of the wooden frame helps confirm the period of manufacture.
What is mercury glass?
Mercury glass refers to historic mirror plates produced using a silvering technique that often ages with foxing spots. This creates a soft and atmospheric reflection.
Original plates add significant character to eighteenth and nineteenth-century mirrors.