What is a cheval mirror?

A cheval mirror is a freestanding full-length dressing glass suspended on pivots within a supportive wooden frame. This design allows the user to tilt the glass angle freely. Such pieces date across the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian periods, serving practical functions in bedrooms and dressing rooms.

How do you date an antique floor mirror?

Dating relies on timber choices, leg styles, and construction methods characteristic of specific eras. Regency and early nineteenth-century examples often feature sabre legs, while Victorian pieces frequently display barley twist supports. Revival styles from the Edwardian period adopt earlier Georgian motifs like satinwood inlay, requiring careful examination of secondary woods and hardware.

Where were these mirrors used?

These mirrors stood in domestic dressing rooms, bedrooms, and grand country houses for full-length attire checks. Specialised versions also served commercial environments such as gentleman's outfitters and boot makers' shops. The inclusion of brass candle holders on certain nineteenth-century examples indicates they provided additional illumination during dressing.

How do you maintain the swiveling mechanism?

The pivoting mechanism relies on side screws or pins that can be gently adjusted to control the tension of the swinging glass. Keeping the brass pivots clean ensures the mirror holds its set angle without straining the wooden uprights. Regular care involves dusting the timber frame and supporting legs while avoiding excessive moisture near the mirror plate edges.