How do I use a dressing mirror today?

Place the mirror on top of a suitable chest of drawers or a dressing table to use it for daily grooming. The pivoting frame allows you to tilt the glass angle to suit your height. The small drawers in the box base provide practical storage for jewellery, cufflinks, and small daily accessories. Ensure the surface is level and stable to protect the antique wood and glass.

What is the difference between a toilet mirror and a cheval mirror?

A toilet mirror is a compact, tabletop object designed to sit on top of furniture. It is portable and focuses on the upper body and face. A cheval mirror is a much larger, floor-standing piece that shows the full length of the figure. It stands on its own four legs rather than resting on a chest or table.

How can I tell a Georgian mirror from a later copy?

Examine the construction methods of the box base, looking at the dovetail joints on the drawers and the type of secondary wood used inside. Older pieces display hand-cut joinery and timber movement appropriate to the eighteenth century. Check the glass itself, as older mirror plates often show slight distortion, bevelling, or silvering wear consistent with age. Modern reproductions tend to use uniform plate glass and machine-made fixings.

What woods were used to make these mirrors?

Mahogany serves as the primary structural and visual timber for the vast majority of these frames and bases. Cabinet makers also utilised specialised veneers like satinwood, burr maple, harewood, and plum pudding mahogany for decorative effect. Inlays commonly incorporate lighter woods such as boxwood, alongside bone elements for contrast. Secondary timbers inside the drawers often include pine or oak.