Three Drawer Mirror
A three drawer mirror combines a practical vanity glass with a compact table base, giving you a dressing surface and hidden storage in one neat piece.
Three Drawer Mirror
A three drawer mirror acts as a traditional table top dressing glass, featuring a small chest or box base that lifts the pivoting frame. These items range from Georgian and Regency forms to Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco examples.
You will encounter various formats spanning George III box base toilet mirrors to serpentine and bow front tables, often resting on bracket feet or bun feet. The base contains a trio of small drawers suitable for trinkets and cosmetics.
Pieces frequently appear as part of larger bedroom suites or as standalone toilet mirrors made from rich timbers. The design focuses on the balance between the swing glass and the compartmentalised base.
How they were made
Cabinet makers constructed the box bases and framing using solid and veneered hardwoods like mahogany, oak, and walnut, often accentuating the surfaces with boxwood stringing and marquetry. These timbers provided the structural integrity needed to support pivoting mirror frames.
Glass plates were silvered and fitted into shaped wooden surrounds, held by adjustable side arms that allowed the user to tilt the angle of reflection. Brass handles and knobs decorated the drawer fronts of the box bases.
Supports varied from simple carved shaped uprights to bracket feet and squashed bun feet, anchoring the desk or tabletop units firmly in place.
Listings feature three drawer mirrors spanning the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, constructed in mahogany, walnut, oak, and rosewood.
What varies in quality
The choice of timber and veneer work dictates the visual standard, with flame mahogany and burr walnut representing the finer end of the spectrum compared to plain oak or standard woods. Crisp boxwood stringing and well executed marquetry elevate the finish of the box base.
Proportion and structural harmony between the mirror frame and the three drawer base determine the success of the piece. Subtle details such as finely carved supports and original brass hardware distinguish superior examples from plain utility items.
Gaylayde·B Cohen & Sons
The Three Drawer Mirror Glossary
- Toilet mirror
- A smaller tabletop dressing mirror designed to sit on a chest of drawers or dressing table. These typically incorporate small drawers in the base for storage.
- Box base
- The compartment section beneath a swing mirror containing small drawers. This configuration provides stability and usable storage space.
- Serpentine
- A curved shape following a convex centre flanked by concave sides. This undulating outline appears on the front of finer drawer bases.
- Boxwood stringing
- Thin inlaid lines of contrasting light wood used to outline drawer fronts and panels. It adds delicate linear decoration to mahogany surfaces.
- Swing mirror
- A glass plate hung on pivots between two upright posts, allowing the user to tilt the reflection. The mechanism relies on side screws or wooden pegs.
Three Drawer Mirror: Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place a three drawer mirror?
These pieces sit comfortably on top of a chest of drawers, sideboard, or dedicated dressing table where the height matches your eye level.
Because they combine a mirror with a small set of drawers, they also function well on a hallway console or a bedroom desk for holding daily accessories.
How do I date a three drawer mirror?
Look closely at the construction of the drawers, the timber used, and the shape of the mirror frame supports. Georgian and Regency versions often feature fine mahogany, boxwood stringing, and serpentine box bases.
Later Victorian, Edwardian, and 1930s examples introduce walnut, oak, French art deco lines, and different foot styles like bun feet.
Are the mirrors original?
Mirror glass frequently experienced replacement over the centuries due to foxing, cracking, or silver degradation. Older glass often shows subtle distortions, wavy lines, or light speckling within the silvering.
When examining a piece, check whether the glass plate sits securely in the original rebate of the wooden frame.
How do I maintain the wood and glass?
Dust the mahogany, walnut, or oak surfaces regularly with a dry, soft cloth and avoid chemical polishes that build up residue over time. Feed the timber occasionally with appropriate wax to keep the grain nourished.
Clean the glass gently using a cloth slightly dampened with water or standard glass cleaner, taking care not to let moisture seep behind the plate.