Small handheld or wall mirrors were not made in England until the beginning of the 17th century. Until then, most were imported from Venice. The celebrated Vauxhall glasshouses were opened in the 1660s.

At first, hand blown techniques were used, but the glass showed a great many imperfections, particularly when used for mirror making. Glass casting, where the molten glass was poured on to a bed of hot metal and rolled, was introduced in France in the later 17th century, but it was not until 1773 that the British Plate Glass Company was incorporated. From then on this glass tended to supplant the French imports.

Initially the mirrored pieces were relatively small and a large carved frame frequently had to incorporate glazing bars to accommodate several pieces of glass. After the mid-18th century improved techniques meant that large plates could be produced, and one supplied by Chippendale measured 231cm more...

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French giltwood mirror, late 18th/ early 19th century, cushion…

French giltwood mirror, late 18th/ early 19th century, cushion shape, decorated with fleur-de-lis, acanthus leaves and scrolls, height 147 cm, width 105 cm. Provenance: Ben Stoner Antiques, Sydney

A gilt-wood and floral-carved wall mirror, . Provence, French…

Floral-carved French Wall Mirror, Early 19th Century

A gilt-wood and floral-carved wall mirror, . Provence, French early 19th century 164 cm high 88 cm wide. Provenance: Mossgreen, The Age of Madame de Pompadour Collection 2014 Sydney lot 68 ( AUD$7, 000)

Louis XV giltwood mirror, 18th century, the shaped mirror with…

18th Century Louis XV Giltwood Floral Mirror

Louis XV giltwood mirror, 18th century, the shaped mirror with carved floral decoration, on red velvet lined wooden back, 113 x 75 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, NSW

Louis XV style giltwood mirror, 19th century, the moulded and…

19th Century Giltwood Louis XV Style Mirror

Louis XV style giltwood mirror, 19th century, the moulded and carved frame with scrolls and floral decoration, 119 x 68 cm. Provenance: The Estate of a lady, Sydney

French burr wood and parcel-gilt wall mirror early 20th century…

French Burr Wood Wall Mirror

French burr wood and parcel-gilt wall mirror early 20th century of rectangular shape, 110 x 83 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney.

French neoclassical grey painted and parcel-gilt trumeau mirror…

French Neoclassical Trumeau Mirror with Bas-Relief Plaque

French neoclassical grey painted and parcel-gilt trumeau mirror c. 1810 the egg and dart moulded cornice above a cream painted plaster bas-relief plaque depicting Naiades, Triton playing the conch shell and putti, height 200 cm, width 101.5 cm. Provenance…

A Louis XVI style giltwood console table and mirror, late 19th…

Louis XVI Giltwood Console Table and Mirror

A Louis XVI style giltwood console table and mirror, late 19th century, the decoratively carved mirror accented with flowers, acanthus leaves and scrolls, sitting upon a breakfront console inset with a marble plate, above fluted legs and stretchers,…

Louis XVI style giltwood mirror, 19th century, with central…

19th Century Giltwood Mirror with Maiden Busts

Louis XVI style giltwood mirror, 19th century, with central bevelled oval plate surrounded by further shaped panels, the surround carved and moulded with scrolls and flowers, the whole surmounted by two maiden's busts, 140 x 92 cm. Provenance: Private…

Louis XV style giltwood mirror, 19th century, of rectangular…

19th Century Giltwood Louis XV Mirror

Louis XV style giltwood mirror, 19th century, of rectangular shape, with moulded scrolls, shells and flowers, later mirror plate 108 x 84 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

Louis XV grey-painted and parcel-gilt trumeau mirror Mid-18th…

Louis XV Grey-Painted Trumeau Mirror with Gilt Details

Louis XV grey-painted and parcel-gilt trumeau mirror Mid-18th century, the moulded cornice above two gilded columns and applied foliate decoration, the centre with a shaped rectangular mirror plate within a gilded frame surmounted by a shell, possibly…

French giltwood mirror, c. 1900, of upright rectangular shape,…

French Giltwood Mirror and Console Table Set

French giltwood mirror, c. 1900, of upright rectangular shape, the pediment embellished with ribbon and swags of flowers, together with giltwood demi-lune console table, with white marble top (2), 176 x 62 cm, height 86 cm, (table). Provenance: The …

French Art Deco mirror, c. 1920, in the style of Edgar Brandt,…

French Art Deco Wrought Iron Mirror Plate

French Art Deco mirror, c. 1920, in the style of Edgar Brandt, wrought iron and mirror plate, height 166 cm width 151 cm. Provenance: John Playfoot Fine Art, Melbourne, 2004. Private Collection, Sydney

A carved giltwood circular, French, circa 1900 convex wall…

Giltwood French Wall Mirror with Ribbon Sash

A carved giltwood circular, French, circa 1900 convex wall mirror with ribbon sash finial

A contemporary wall mirror, after Jacques Lafon, French, 20th…

Contemporary French Wall Mirror by Jacques Lafon

A contemporary wall mirror, after Jacques Lafon, French, 20th century, the rectangular plate within a canted mirrored surround, 90.5 x 70.5 cm. Provenance: Cecily Taylor, Boulogne, France: Alan Wanzenberg Architect, New York. Private Collection, Sydney,…

Louis Philippe style giltwood mirror, late 19th century, curved…

Louis Philippe Giltwood Mirror, Late 19th Century

Louis Philippe style giltwood mirror, late 19th century, curved rectangular frame with beaded decoration, later glass, 168 x 125 cm. Provenance: Paul Kenny Antiques, Sydney, 2003

Louis Philippe giltwood mirror, c. 1850, rounded rectangular…

Louis Philippe giltwood mirror with floral and shell decoration

Louis Philippe giltwood mirror, c. 1850, rounded rectangular moulded frame with floral decoration, surmounted by a pediment of scrolling flowers and central shell shield (A/F), 183 x 112 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

Monumental Louis Phillippe gilt-wood mirror, c. 1880, the oval…

Louis Phillippe Gilt-Wood Mirror with Foliate Crest

Monumental Louis Phillippe gilt-wood mirror, c. 1880, the oval frame surmounted by a crest carved with foliate, height 198 cm width 133 depth 13.5 cm. Provenance: The Country Trader. Private collection, 54 Park Street Spa, Sydney,

French Gothic revival cast iron Tracery, 19th century,…

French Gothic Cast Iron Mirror

French Gothic revival cast iron Tracery, 19th century, converted to a mirror, height 174 cm width 100 cm. Provenance: The Country Trader. Private collection, 54 Park Street Spa, Sydney,

Carved and gilt French mirror, 1900, scrolled foliate border…

French Gilt Mirror with Scrolled Foliate Border

Carved and gilt French mirror, 1900, scrolled foliate border surmounted by garlands and a central shield motif. Height 185 cm width 122 cm. Provenance: Conley & Co.. Private Collection, NSW

An elaborately carved gilt wood plate mirror, French, late 18th…

Gilt Wood Plate Mirror, Late 18th Century French

An elaborately carved gilt wood plate mirror, French, late 18th century, 86 x 75 cm. Provenance: John Dunn Antiques, Melbourne

A large Mannerist style carved lime-wood mirror, French, 17th…

17th Century French Carved Lime-Wood Mirror with Cherubs

A large Mannerist style carved lime-wood mirror, French, 17th century, carved with cherubs and foliage, 138 cm high, 120 cm wide. Provenance: John Dunn Antiques, Melbourne

French 19th century lime washed over-mantle mirror. 210 cm x…

French Lime Washed Over-Mantle Mirror (19th Century)

French 19th century lime washed over-mantle mirror. 210 cm x 124 cm

A cream & gilt painted and relief decorated over-mantel mirror,…

French Gilt Over-Mantel Mirror, 19th Century

A cream & gilt painted and relief decorated over-mantel mirror, French 19th century, 220 cm high, 116 cm wide. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

An Empire style gilt gesso and green painted over-mantel mirror,…

Empire Style Gilt Over-Mantel Mirror, French 19th Century

An Empire style gilt gesso and green painted over-mantel mirror, French 19th century, 151 cm high, 96 cm wide. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

A large carved gilt wood and walnut finish mirror, French,…

Gilt Wood French Mirror, Circa 1900

A large carved gilt wood and walnut finish mirror, French, circa 1900. 230 cm high, 140 cm wide. Provenance. Private Collection Toorak, Melbourne

A green painted and gilt wood wall mirror, French, 19th century.…

French Green and Gilt Wall Mirror, 19th Century

A green painted and gilt wood wall mirror, French, 19th century. 200 cm high, 120 cm wide. Provenance. Private Collection Toorak, Melbourne

A carved gilt wood and vernis Martin wall mirror, French, 19th…

French Gilt Wood Wall Mirror, 19th Century

A carved gilt wood and vernis Martin wall mirror, French, 19th century. 215 cm high, 125 cm wide. Provenance. Private Collection Toorak, Melbourne

Louis XV style gilt overmantle mirror, 19th century, leaf and…

Louis XV Gilt Overmantle Mirror with Garlands and Shield

Louis XV style gilt overmantle mirror, 19th century, leaf and berry border surmounted by garlands and a central shield motif. Height 198.5 cm. Width 160 cm. Provenance: Orlando design and Antiques, Mosman. The Estate of a Lady, NSW

Gilt framed cushion mirror, French 19th century, rectangular…

19th Century French Floral Mirror

Gilt framed cushion mirror, French 19th century, rectangular with decoration of flowers and leaves, rope twist border. Height 193 cm. Width 110 cm. Provenance: The Country Trader, Sydney. The Estate of a Lady, NSW

A large carved giltwood overmantel mirror, French late 19th…

Giltwood overmantel mirror with carved acanthus and lions' heads

A large carved giltwood overmantel mirror, French late 19th century the rectangular bevelled plate within an acanthus carved frame with foliate scroll carved mounts to the base with lions' heads, with a floral carved cornice with a central cartouche, 175…