What is a cheval mirror?

A cheval mirror is a tall, floor-standing looking glass mounted within a frame that pivots on vertical axes. This design lets the user tilt the glass to various angles for full-length viewing. Such pieces traditionally stood in bedrooms and dressing rooms alongside matching wardrobes and chests of drawers.

How do I date a tilting mirror?

Dating relies on timber choices, leg styles, and hardware details like brass castors or pivoting pins. Earlier nineteenth-century examples often feature sabots and sabre legs, while 1920s and 1930s items display Art Deco lines or Chinoiserie lacquer. Construction methods and backboards also provide clear indicators of period manufacture.

Where should I place a dressing mirror?

These mirrors suit bedrooms, dressing areas, and hallways where adjustable reflection proves useful. Tabletop versions sit comfortably upon heavy chests of drawers or dressing tables. Freestanding cheval mirrors occupy corner spaces or blank walls while adding architectural depth to a room.

How do the pivoting mechanisms work?

The glass frame hangs between two vertical upright posts using lateral screw pins or trunnions. Tightening or loosening these side fixings holds the mirror plate at the desired viewing angle. Metal brackets and washers maintain tension to prevent the heavy glass from slipping.