What is a cheval table mirror?

A cheval table mirror is a small dressing glass mounted on pivots within a frame, designed to sit on top of a table or chest rather than stand on the floor. These pieces allow the user to adjust the tilt of the glass for grooming and dressing purposes.

How do you date a antique mirror?

Dating relies on examining the timber species, construction methods, hardware materials, and stylistic details associated with periods like the Regency era or the Victorian age. Changes in cabinet-making techniques and brass fittings across the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries provide clear chronological indicators.

Were these mirrors used on dressing tables?

These mirrors were primarily placed on dressing tables, chests of drawers, and washstands in bedrooms and dressing rooms. Many examples feature small drawers in their base structures to hold small personal items.

What woods were used for frames?

Cabinet makers utilised dense hardwoods including mahogany, walnut, and oak for the structural frames of these pieces. Selected items also incorporate satinwood, rosewood, or giltwood depending on the prevailing style of the period.