Where should I place a console mirror?

These pieces suit entrance halls, reception rooms, and principal living spaces where they bounce light from windows and provide an immediate focal point. Position them against a solid wall of sufficient width to balance the proportion of the table base and the vertical height of the glass.

Are the mirrors original to the tables?

Many nineteenth-century console tables were manufactured as unified pier mirrors with fixed glass backs, while others were paired with matching wall mirrors. Examining the rebate, backing boards, and silvering wear helps determine whether the glass has remained with the timber base since manufacture.

How do I distinguish Victorian from Regency pieces?

Regency items generally exhibit cleaner classical lines influenced by ancient Greek and Roman forms, often featuring simpler mahogany surfaces. Victorian and Rococo Revival examples lean towards heavier carved decoration, exuberant scrolling, and elaborate mirror frames.