Where should I hang a pier glass?

These mirrors suit narrow wall spaces, hallways, or the wall space between two windows where they can maximise natural light. They also function effectively above low console tables or mantelpieces. Ensure the wall structure can support the substantial weight of carved wood and glass frames, particularly for larger nineteenth-century examples.

What is mercury glass?

Mercury glass is an older type of mirror plate made using a silvering method that often produces dark spots and mottled patches called foxing. This ageing process is characteristic of eighteenth and nineteenth-century mirrors. Modern mirror plates lack these natural irregularities and the soft reflection produced by historic glass.

How do I tell an eighteenth-century mirror from a nineteenth-century revival piece?

Eighteenth-century mirrors typically display hand-carved details specific to Georgian or Louis XV periods, showing subtle tool marks and older construction methods. Timber types like walnut or sycamore often appear in these earlier pieces. Nineteenth-century revival pieces often utilise heavier gesso over carved wood, reflecting the ornate tastes of the Victorian era and later decorative movements.

What is a trumeau mirror?

A trumeau mirror combines a vertical looking glass with an integrated decorative panel, which frequently contains a pastoral oil painting or carved woodwork. Originating in French interior design, they served as permanent architectural wall decorations. They bring both art and reflected light into a room within a single unified frame.