Sterling Silver Vanity Mirror
A sterling silver vanity mirror sits upon a dressing table or rests in the hand, fashioned from precious metal to catch the morning light.
Sterling Silver Vanity Mirror
A sterling silver vanity mirror encompasses handheld dressing glasses, large easel-backed table mirrors, and compacts dating from the late nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century.
The pieces on this page span the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras, displaying styles from florid rococo revival to geometric modernist lines.
Makers utilised glass, velvet, wood, and leather alongside sterling silver to create functional dressing table accessories.
Materials and construction
Silversmiths hammered, cast, and pierced sterling silver to form frames and handles, often incorporating wooden backs or velvet struts for support.
Enamel work, particularly guilloche, added colour to compacts and miniature mirrors, while bevelled mirror glass provided reflection.
Listings feature sterling silver, glass, velvet, and enamel across Victorian and Art Deco periods.
Distinctions in quality
The weight of the silver and the depth of repousse embossing distinguish sturdier dressing table mirrors from lighter examples.
Intricate hand-painted enamel and crisp hallmarks from notable makers elevate the distinction of a piece above standard mass-produced items.
Henry Williamson·Henry Matthews·Charles Boyton·S Blanckensee and Son·William Comyns
The Sterling Silver Vanity Mirror Glossary
- Guilloche
- A decorative technique where a precise, intricate repeating pattern is mechanically engraved into the underlying metal before translucent enamel is applied. This method creates a shimmering background effect seen on many Art Deco pieces.
- Easel mirror
- A dressing table mirror fitted with a hinged rear support strut that allows the glass to stand upright on a surface. These frames often combine sterling silver fronts with wooden or velvet-covered backs.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied by an assay office confirming the purity of the precious metal, the maker's mark, and the year of manufacture. British sterling silver standard is denoted by the lion passant.
- Repousse
- A metalworking technique where the silversmith hammers the silver from the reverse side to form a raised design on the front. This process creates high-relief motifs such as cherubs, flowers, and animals.
- Sterling silver
- An alloy consisting of ninety-two point five percent silver and seven point five percent other metals, usually copper, to add durability. This standard is universally utilised across British and American antique items.
Sterling Silver Vanity Mirror: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean tarnished silver mirror frames?
Use a soft microfiber cloth and a mild silver polish specifically formulated for antique silver. Take care to avoid applying liquid polish directly onto glass edges or exposed velvet backing.
Gentle rubbing preserves the original hallmarks and raised repousse details without wearing away the thin silver layer.
Can I replace a cracked mirror glass?
Original bevelled mirror glass adds historical value, but replacement is sometimes necessary for practical use. A local restorer can fit modern glass into the antique silver frame.
Retain the old glass shards if possible, as they provide measurements and thickness details for the specialist.
What is the difference between a hand mirror and an easel mirror?
Hand mirrors feature an integrated handle designed for lifting during personal grooming. Easel mirrors incorporate a folding rear leg to stand independently on a dressing table.
Both forms utilise identical silver framing techniques and date from the same Victorian and Edwardian periods.
How do I identify the date of a silver mirror?
Examine the silver frame for stamped hallmarks, which typically include a maker's mark, a lion passant, an assay office city symbol, and a date letter. Each letter corresponds to a specific year of assay.
Matching these stamps against official assay records reveals the exact year the piece was tested and registered.