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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19th century mahogany circular wall mirror, with shaped top and…

19th Century Mahogany Circular Wall Mirror with Bow Front

19th century mahogany circular wall mirror, with shaped top and bow front font,

Wall mirror c.1970s by Kartell, circular orange plastic frame,…

Kartell Orange Plastic Circular Wall Mirror (1970s)

Wall mirror c.1970s by Kartell, circular orange plastic frame, diameter 63 cm

A 19th century gilt framed circular wall mirror, with rococo…

Gilt Rococo Floral Wall Mirror

A 19th century gilt framed circular wall mirror, with rococo scroll shell and floral frame

Four Chinese bronze mirrors, Song Dynasty (960-1279),…

Chinese Bronze Mirrors from Song Dynasty

Four Chinese bronze mirrors, Song Dynasty (960-1279), comprising a large eight lobed mirror with two three clawed dragons surrounded by the eight trigrams, and three smaller circular mirrors with varied decoration. The lobed mirror 1.5 cm high, 17 cm…

A circular giltwood mirror A/F, 57 cm diameter

Giltwood Mirror, 57 cm Diameter A/F

A circular giltwood mirror A/F, 57 cm diameter

19th century French trumeau mirror, of rectangular form,…

French Trumeau Mirror with Courting Lovers Painting

19th century French trumeau mirror, of rectangular form, featuring circular hand painted panel depicting courting lovers in a landscape, surrounded by carved and gilded bow and wreath, set above rectangular bevelled edge mirror, with foliate molded…

An early 1900s Liberty's of London mirror, circular copper…

Liberty's Copper Mirror with Original Plaque

An early 1900s Liberty's of London mirror, circular copper frame with restrained decoration to the edge, original Liberty London plaque to the back. Diameter 58 cm.

A fine Regency period giltwood mirror, the circular frame with…

Regency Giltwood Eagle Mirror

A fine Regency period giltwood mirror, the circular frame with beading and ebonised slip, surmounted with an eagle on a square tablet between carved foliage and downward finial, 94 x 53 x 16 cm

A circular giltwood concave mirror, the circular plate within…

Giltwood Ribbon Mirror, 50 cm Diameter

A circular giltwood concave mirror, the circular plate within an ebonised slip, encompassed by a moulded frame plied with ribbon decoration to the edges. diameter 50 cm. Provenance: Private collection, Sydney.

Designer wall mirror by Harrison Gill, circular shaped with…

Giltwood Abstract Circle Mirror by Harrison Gill

Designer wall mirror by Harrison Gill, circular shaped with abstract carved and giltwood frame

A circular antique mirror, kauri pine with original gilt slip,…

Antique Kauri Pine Mirror with Gilt Slip

A circular antique mirror, kauri pine with original gilt slip, 19th century, 48 cm diameter

A circular wall mirror, the bevelled plate in a gilt and…

Gilt & Ebonised Circular Wall Mirror - 100cm Diameter

A circular wall mirror, the bevelled plate in a gilt and ebonised reeded frame, diameter 100 cm, depth 7.5 cm

An impressive kauri mirror, the circular frame carved with the…

Green Man Kauri Mirror

An impressive kauri mirror, the circular frame carved with the Green Man, flowering leafy vines and other symbols of abundance, bevelled mirror, diameter 85 cm.

A large and highly decorative gilt mirror, circular, with…

Ornate Gilt Circular Mirror with Pierced Fretwork

A large and highly decorative gilt mirror, circular, with pierced fretwork of scrolling decoration, diameter 1000m

A pair of carved gilt and painted circular wall mirrors, French,…

French Gilt Mirrors, 18/19th Century

A pair of carved gilt and painted circular wall mirrors, French, 18/19th century 33 cm diameter

A circular mirror in a wide silver gilt frame, diameter 81 cm

Large Silver Gilt Circular Mirror, 81cm Diameter

A circular mirror in a wide silver gilt frame, diameter 81 cm

An Aesthetic ebonized and gilded wall shelf, with circular…

Ebonized Wall Shelf with Bird and Butterfly Rondels

An Aesthetic ebonized and gilded wall shelf, with circular mirror and rondels painted with birds and butterflies, height 66 cm. Provenance: The Estate of Emeritus Professor Brian Coote CBE, FRSNZ (1929 - 2019)

A Louis XV style circular salon mirror with a moulded gadrooned…

Gadrooned Louis XV Circular Salon Mirror

A Louis XV style circular salon mirror with a moulded gadrooned rim and acanthus leaf decoration 120 cm diameter

A carved giltwood and painted circular wall mirror in the…

Empire-style Giltwood Wall Mirror with Wreath & Torch

A carved giltwood and painted circular wall mirror in the Empire style, French circa 1900, with wreath and torch and arrow embellishment. Height 75 cm, width 47 cm

Butlers mirror. Carved wood, circular frame surmounted by an…

Butlers mirror. Carved wood, circular frame surmounted by an eagle, diameter 48 cm, mirror 37 cm

Circular gilt mirror signed by artist, etched DMA23 to front,…

Gilt Etched Circular Mirror by DMA23 - 92cm

Circular gilt mirror signed by artist, etched DMA23 to front, 92 x 92 cm

A Florentine style gilt wall mirror in the rococo style with…

Florentine Rococo Gilt Wall Mirror with Portrait Masks

A Florentine style gilt wall mirror in the rococo style with portrait masks, shells and scrolls and circular centre mirror height 135 cm, width 110 cm

A giltwood circular mirror surmounted with an eagle and laurel…

Giltwood Eagle Mirror with Laurel Leaves

A giltwood circular mirror surmounted with an eagle and laurel leaves, English, 19th century, 70 cm high

Rococo style gilt-wood mirror, of circular shape, height 128 cm…

Circular Rococo Gilt-Wood Mirror (128x111cm)

Rococo style gilt-wood mirror, of circular shape, height 128 cm width 111 cm

A English Regency gilded circular mirror with eagle motif. 100…

Regency Gilded Eagle Mirror - 100x65cm

A English Regency gilded circular mirror with eagle motif. 100 cm high, 65 cm wide

A large Regency circular giltwood Girandole, the circular…

Regency Giltwood Circular Girandole with Brass Sconces

A large Regency circular giltwood Girandole, the circular mirror emanating four brass sconces, surmounted by an elaborate foliate and scrollwork crest, 125 x 108 cm total height and width

An Arts & Craft copper framed mirror, the frame worked in high…

Copper Relief Mirror with Stylised Floral Design

An Arts & Craft copper framed mirror, the frame worked in high relief with stylised leaves, tulips and circular bosses and studded with decorative nails; rectangular shape framing a bevel edged mirror. 72 cm x 114 cm

A silver foil overlaid wall mirror, the circular plate within a…

Radiating Silver Foil Wall Mirror

A silver foil overlaid wall mirror, the circular plate within a radiating fluted silverfoil surround, 92 cm diameter

Circular mirror in elaborate gilt timber frame 80 cm x 70 cm

Gilt-framed Circular Mirror - 80x70cm

Circular mirror in elaborate gilt timber frame 80 cm x 70 cm

A circular gilt framed mirror

Gilt Circle Mirror

A circular gilt framed mirror

An Italian smoky and clear glass circular wall mirror, circa…

1950s Italian Smoky Glass Wall Mirror - 72cm Diameter

An Italian smoky and clear glass circular wall mirror, circa 1950. 72 cm diameter

A finely carved circular ebonised wall mirror with bevelled…

Ebonised Bevelled Glass Circular Wall Mirror, 125cm

A finely carved circular ebonised wall mirror with bevelled glass, 125 cm diameter

A 19th century Arts & Crafts wall mirror in beaten riveted…

Arts & Crafts Copper Mirror with Dante Bust

A 19th century Arts & Crafts wall mirror in beaten riveted copper with circular relief profile bust of 'Dante' in brass. Height 77 cm

A stylish steel and gilt bronze circular wall mirror, Italian,…

Italian Gilt Bronze Wall Mirror, 1950s

A stylish steel and gilt bronze circular wall mirror, Italian, circa 1950. 66 cm diameter