Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Gesso, Mirror, Giltwood, Wood
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Gesso, Pine, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century English Regency Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror
1730s Italian Rococo Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Giltwood, Mirror
1820s English Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Composition
1810s European Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Ebony, Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mahogany
19th Century British Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Wood, Glass
Late 18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Wood
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Wood
19th Century English Regency Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Gesso, Mirror, Wood
18th Century and Earlier German Rococo Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Giltwood
Early 20th Century Rococo Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique and Vintage Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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.