Georgian Over Mantle Mirror
Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace M...
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century American Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Hardwood, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Georgian Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Gesso, Mirror, Wood
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century English Georgian Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Wood
Antique 1830s English Georgian Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Giltwood
People Also Browsed
20th Century Regency Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Art Deco End Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Center Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Watercolor
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cupboards
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Other Dining Room Tables
Walnut
20th Century American Regency Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century Regency Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights a...
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Federal Bookcases
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Vintage 1910s American Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Metal
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Table Lamps
Glass
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Chairs
Wood, Paint
Finding the Right Mantel-mirrors-fireplace-mirrors for You
Antique and vintage fireplace mirrors and mantel mirrors are sophisticated, classic pieces of decor, with the large size of fireplace mirrors making them centerpiece objects. They add character to any room and also create the appearance of space. Fireplace mirrors and mantel mirrors, like any well-placed antique or vintage mirror, can act as a source of light and make a room seem bigger than it is.
Fireplace mirrors were once a status symbol, as only the wealthiest could afford these big, beautiful pieces for their homes. In the 1500s and 1600s, the Venetian glass industry produced mirrors that were luxury items. Their painstaking creation was the result of a secretive process using melted tin, limiting their size and availability.
In the late 17th century, French glassmaker Bernard Perrot radically transformed mirrors. By casting glass into large, flat slabs, his work grew into an international market for mantel mirrors. These mirrors were often set in decorated frames.
French homes transitioned to lower fireplaces and mantels so tall mantel mirrors could fit above them. The design of fireplace mirrors reflected architectural trends. Some in the mid-18th century featured paintings, while others had delicate carvings.
By the 1800s, mantel mirrors had become more widely available. This reflected a dramatic change in glass mass-production technology, which made oversize mirrors more accessible, leading to their proliferation across the globe.
Today, mantel mirrors are still highly regarded statement pieces with an enduring reputation for elegance. Their versatility has allowed them to branch out beyond the fireplace. Their reflectiveness allows them to amplify a sumptuous painting in a bedroom or capture the tiling of a bathroom.
From mid-century modern designs to pieces created in Louis XVI style, there is a mirror for every room and every occasion on 1stDibs.