Georgian Style Toilet Glass
A georgian style toilet glass sits on a dressing table to frame the morning routine, bringing warm timber and polished mirror glass to the bedroom.
Georgian Style Toilet Glass
A georgian style toilet glass is a tabletop dressing mirror designed to pivot between upright supports, sitting upon a small base fitted with drawers. You will most frequently encounter mahogany examples, often bearing Sheraton or Hepplewhite influences alongside later revival pieces.
The form spans centuries of production, appearing in genuine period iterations from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as well as later revival interpretations. These pieces serve both as functional looking glasses and as compact case furniture for the dressing table.
Materials and construction
Cabinetmakers built these mirrors primarily using solid and veneered mahogany, sometimes enriched with satinwood inlay or Dutch marquetry details. Brass hardware, including pivoting screw knobs and small drawer pulls, provides both structural movement and decorative contrast against the dark wood.
The mirror plate itself rests within a shaped wooden frame, suspended between two upright arms attached to the box base. Joinery techniques reflect traditional cabinetmaking standards of the period, employing dovetail joints on the small base drawers.
Secret compartments hidden inside the tiny base drawers occasionally wait to store a forgotten nineteenth-century hairpin.
Judging quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the timber selection and the subtlety of decorative details like stringing or marquetry. Finer examples show thoughtful proportions in the frame and base, where every curve of a serpentine front or sweep of an upright arm feels balanced.
The integrity of the original surfaces and the depth of the timber grain separate standard workshop output from exceptional cabinet work. Secondary woods used inside the drawer construction further indicate the standard of the maker's workshop.
Gillow
The Georgian Style Toilet Glass Glossary
- Toilet glass
- A portable dressing table mirror with a small set of drawers beneath, designed for personal grooming. These pieces sit directly on top of a larger chest or dressing table.
- Cheval mirror
- A full-length freestanding floor mirror mounted in a rotating frame. The name derives from the French word for horse.
- Marquetry
- Decorative patterns formed by inserting pieces of contrasting veneer into a wooden background. This technique appears on Dutch and Sheraton style examples.
- Serpentine
- A gently undulating furniture front featuring a convex centre flanked by concave curves. This contour adds considerable elegance to the base drawers.
Georgian Style Toilet Glass: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a toilet glass?
A toilet glass is a small tabletop mirror fitted with a pivoting frame and a base containing one or more small drawers.
Historically placed on a dressing table or chest of drawers, it provided a portable reflection for personal grooming before built-in wardrobe mirrors became common.
How do I date a mirror?
Dating relies on examining the construction methods of the base drawers, the wood species, and the style of the upright supports.
Earlier pieces from the eighteenth century often feature hand-cut dovetails and native timber veneers, while nineteenth-century revival pieces show different secondary woods and machine-sawn elements.
Are these mirrors stable?
These mirrors remain remarkably stable when placed on a flat, level surface, supported by wide feet or bracket bases.
The brass screw knobs on the upright arms allow you to tighten the tension so the mirror glass stays angled at your preferred position.
Where should I place it?
These pieces sit comfortably on top of a low chest of drawers, a dedicated dressing table, or a sideboard in a bedroom.
Positioning the glass near a natural light source ensures the mirror performs its traditional function while adding warmth to the room.