Where should I hang an overmantel mirror?

Place an overmantel mirror securely above a fireplace mantelpiece where it can anchor the room and reflect natural light. Ensure the wall fixings match the substantial weight of the timber and gesso frame. These large pieces also function effectively on main reception room walls opposite windows to brighten darker corners.

How can I tell a Victorian gilt mirror from an 18th-century one?

Examine the style of the carving and the composition ornaments, as Victorian pieces often feature heavy acanthus leaves and machine-pressed elements. Eighteenth-century examples generally display more fluid, hand-carved Rococo asymmetry and lighter wooden frames. Inspect the backboards and fixings for further clues regarding the period of manufacture and assembly techniques.

What is the difference between gesso and carved wood?

Carved wood involves shaping the actual timber frame using chisels and gouges to form structural details. Gesso is a chalk and binder mixture applied over the wood to build up raised decorative motifs and smooth surfaces before gilding. Many antique frames combine both techniques, using carved wooden foundations supplemented by moulded gesso relief work.