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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A George III gilt-framed rectangular wall mirror, English 18th…

A George III gilt-framed rectangular wall mirror, English 18th century. Provenance: The Estate of the late Lady Burrell, Rosemont Sydney. Dimensions: 98 cm x 84 cm

A Regency convex mirror, English, circa 1810 of circular form…

Regency Convex Mirror with Gilt Frame and Foliate Decoration

A Regency convex mirror, English, circa 1810 of circular form with a gilt frame, foliate decoration, reeded trim and an ebonised slip diameter: 80 cm. Provenance: Acquired from Martyn Cook Antiques, Sydney, in 1996

A George III giltwood pier mirror, the rectangular plate within…

George III Giltwood Rocaille Pier Mirror

A George III giltwood pier mirror, the rectangular plate within a rocaille scroll carved frame with pendant fruit and flowers. Height 117 cm, width 70 cm. Provenance: Bonhams & Goodman Auctions, 2008. Private collection, Sydney.

Pair of Venetian giltwood mirrored wall sconces, 18th century,…

18th Century Venetian Giltwood Mirrored Wall Sconces (Pair)

Pair of Venetian giltwood mirrored wall sconces, 18th century, each cartouche shaped frame enclosing a mirror plate etched with classical female nudes, with four branches (A/F mirrors cracked) (2), height 78 cm width 37 cm depth 17 cm (each). Provenance:…

Empire black lacquer and parcel-gilt console table with mirror,…

Empire Black Lacquer Console Table with Mirror

Empire black lacquer and parcel-gilt console table with mirror, c. 1810, black finish, the rectangular mirror surmounted by two griffins supporting an urn with garland and flowers, further flanked by two urn finials, above a console table fitted with a…

George III Chippendale style mahogany and parcel-gilt mirror, c.…

Chippendale Mahogany Gilt Mirror with Phoenix & Roses

George III Chippendale style mahogany and parcel-gilt mirror, c. 1760, the scrolled frame with carved giltwood applied decoration in the form of garlands of roses down the sides, the top surmounted by a phoenix 122 x 56 cm. Provenance: Hackwood park,…

Regency carved giltwood convex wall mirror, c. 1820, surmounted…

Regency Giltwood Dragon Mirror with Candle Arms

Regency carved giltwood convex wall mirror, c. 1820, surmounted by a dragon above a circular plate within rope moulded band supporting two scrolled candle arms with sockets and drip trays and supporting leaves, height 100 cm, width 56 cm. Provenance: The…

Georgian style pier mirror, 20th century, tall rectangular…

Georgian Pier Mirror, 20th Century

Georgian style pier mirror, 20th century, tall rectangular plate with moulded rim, height 158 cm width 42 cm. Provenance: The Collection of Janet and Graeme Webb, Wollogorang, NSW

Attributed to Luke Lightfoot (English), George III carved wood…

18th Century Rococo Style Carved Wood Pier Mirror

Attributed to Luke Lightfoot (English), George III carved wood pier mirror, 18th century, in the rococo style, the shaped rectangular beveled plate within a pierced white painted surround of scrolls, acanthus foliage and flowers, the lower part centred by…

Georgian pier mirror, 18th century, with three plates…

18th Century Georgian Pier Mirror with Floral Ornamentation

Georgian pier mirror, 18th century, with three plates surmounted by an urn of flowers flanked by birds and ribbon tied floral swags, raised on cornucopia legs, height 160 cm width 72 cm. Provenance: The Collection of Janet and Graeme Webb, Wollogorang, NSW

Italian giltwood mirror late 18th century, of oval shape,…

18th Century Italian Giltwood Oval Mirror

Italian giltwood mirror late 18th century, of oval shape, carved with acanthus leaves, 160 x 150 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's Sydney, the Norman Wheeler collection, August 1994, lot 266, Christopher Selmes, Bronte House. Christie's Sydney, The John Schaeffer…

Regency giltwood convex mirror, c. 1830, the circular mirror…

Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror with Eagle Crest

Regency giltwood convex mirror, c. 1830, the circular mirror plate within a reeded ebonised slip and twisted rope frame, the crest formed as an eagle with outspread wings, height 126 cm, diameter 80 cm. Provenance: The Estate of Neville Grace, Sydney

Italian rococo style giltwood overmantel mirror, late 18th…

Italian Rococo Giltwood Overmantel Mirror, Late 18th Century

Italian rococo style giltwood overmantel mirror, late 18th century, the rectangular mirror plate within a double surround carved with foliate scrolls and shells, the pediment profusely carved with scrolls, foliage and flowers, further adorned with four…

Australian Colonial cedar overmantle mirror, c. 1850, of…

Colonial Cedar Overmantle Mirror, c. 1850

Australian Colonial cedar overmantle mirror, c. 1850, of rectangular form, with carved oak leaf tracery against silk lining, original bevelled glass mirror, 67 x 91 cm. Provenance: Marvin Hurnall Antiques, Melbourne. Collection of George and Adisa Pompei,…

Brian Barrow (Australian), monumental Regency style giltwood…

Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror with Candelabra

Brian Barrow (Australian), monumental Regency style giltwood convex mirror, surmounted by a neoclassical trophy and flanked by three branch candelabra, height 184 cm width 134 cm. Provenance: collection of George and Adisa Pompei, Sydney

Victorian leatherwork mirror, New South Wales, c. 1880, of oval…

Victorian Leatherwork Oval Mirror

Victorian leatherwork mirror, New South Wales, c. 1880, of oval shape, applied tooled leather flowers, original glass mirror, height 150 cm 92 cm. Provenance: Marvin Hurnall Antiques, Melbourne. Collection of George and Adisa Pompei, Sydney. Labels:…

A George III gilt wood framed wall mirror with a rectangular…

George III Gilt Wood Wall Mirror with Carved Foliate

A George III gilt wood framed wall mirror with a rectangular plate beneath a carved foliate, 97 cm high, 52 cm wide. Provenance: Clonlara, East Melbourne, Victoria.

18th century reverse painted glass mirror, of rectangular shape.…

18th Century Reverse Glass Mirror

18th century reverse painted glass mirror, of rectangular shape. 68 x 46 cm. Provenance: The Collection of Peggy Moore, NSW

A good George III gilt wood wall mirror, English, circa 1760.…

George III Gilt Wood Wall Mirror, Circa 1760

A good George III gilt wood wall mirror, English, circa 1760. 116 cm high, 64 cm wide. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

A Regency overmantel mirror, circa 1820. The upper panel…

Regency En-Grissaille Overmantel Mirror

A Regency overmantel mirror, circa 1820. The upper panel painted with en-grisaille panel of gambolling putti, with reeded cornice and pilaster form gilded gesso frame, 116.5 cm width x 154.5 cm height. Provenance: Purchased from Palmer Antiques, Sydney.