Why are convex mirrors curved outwards?

The outward curve bends light rays to capture a panoramic view of the entire room within a compact circular frame. This optical property made them popular in historical interiors for monitoring large spaces. Georgian and Regency homeowners also utilised them to reflect natural daylight from windows into darker hallways and corners.

How can I tell a Regency original from a later revival?

Examine the construction of the timber backing and the composition of the gesso layer for signs of age and shrinkage. Early nineteenth-century pieces often display hand-carved details and antique mirror glass with subtle foxing. Revival pieces from the twentieth century tend to show machine tooling, modern backing boards, and uniform flat gilding without historical wear.

What rooms suit a convex wall mirror best?

Dining rooms, hallways, and drawing rooms benefit most from the wide-angle perspective and bright focal point these mirrors provide. Their compact circular format fits well above mantelpieces or narrow console tables. Placing them opposite a window maximises their original purpose of distributing ambient daylight across the interior space.