Where should an overmantel mirror be hung?

These mirrors traditionally anchor the space directly above a fireplace mantelpiece, reflecting light and balancing the vertical proportions of the hearth. They also function effectively on principal salon walls where their grand scale can replicate the architectural presence of a chimney breast.

How do I identify a Regency mirror?

Regency pieces often display classical motifs such as reeded columns, ball-stud frames, and verre eglomise panels reflecting early nineteenth-century neoclassical tastes. Makers frequently incorporated bold architectural lines and lighter giltwood mouldings compared to the heavier ornamentation of later Victorian revivals.

Foxed glass refers to the natural speckling and dark patches that develop across antique mirror plates as the reflective backing ages over centuries. This atmospheric oxidation indicates genuine period antiquity rather than modern reproduction.