Federal Mirrors
FEDERAL STYLE
Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.
Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.
Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.
The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.
Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
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Style: Federal
Vintage American Federal Mahogany Beveled Glass Broken Arch Fretwork Wall Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage American Federal Style Mahogany Beveled Glass Broken Arch Fretwork Wall Mirror. Item features beveled glass, beautiful wood grain, carved fretwork, quality American craftsman...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Federal Mirrors
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Fine Antique Federal Period Parcel Gilt Wall Mirror c. 1830
Located in Westfield, MA
This Fine Antique Federal Period Parcel Gilt Wall Mirror, dating to circa 1830, embodies the elegance and restrained beauty characteristic of the Federal style. The mirror features a...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century American Federal Style Overmantel Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th Century American Federal style gilt wood mirror is a quintessential example of the elegance and symmetry that define the Federal design aesthetic. Its frame, adorned with s...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Large Gilt American Federalist Mirrors
Located in Hudson, NY
Mirrors are from circa 1825-1835 and were made in either New York or Boston. Both mirrors come with their original glass and wood backing. Sold as is, as a pair (one mirror panel has...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Mirrors
Vintage Decorative Crafts Inc American Federal Carved Wood Gold Gilt Wall Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Decorative Crafts Inc American Federal Carved Wood Gold Gilt Wall Mirror. Item features gold gilt and brown distress painted finish, carved finials, solid wood frame, nicely ...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Broyhill USA Federal Style Broken Arch & Finial Cherry Wood Wall Dresser Mirror
By Broyhill
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pre-owned Broyhill Federal Style Broken Arch & Finial Wall Dresser Mirror. Item feature a solid wood frame, beautiful wood grain, nicely carved details, quality American craftsmanshi...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Federal Style Parcel Gilt Decorated Mahogany Frame Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
A Federal Style Parcel Gilt Decorated Mahogany Frame Mirror in great vintage condition. Measures 21" in width and 44" in height
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood
Admiral Eagle Federal Round Bull’s-Eye Wall Mirror
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Beautiful round mirror with eagle surmount. In a bronze hue. A great example of the American federal style.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Resin, Plastic
19th Century Giltwood Mirror with Rosette Corners and Fruit Panel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An antique carved giltwood wall mirror from the 1800s featuring a rectangular frame with rosette corners and a basket of fruit panel at the top. It is made of wood and gilded with g...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror
Kindel Federal Style Eagle and Parcel Gilt Decorated Mahogany Frame Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
Kindel Furniture Federal Style Eagle and Parcel Gilt Decorated Mahogany Frame Mirror. Measures 20.75" in width and 45" in height.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
Federal Satinwood Inlaid Carved Mahogany Parcel Gilt And Eglomise Painted Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
A beautiful Federal style Satinwood Inlaid in Carved Mahogany Parcel Gilt And Eglomise Painted scroll ear wall Mirror. Measures 24" in width and 56" tall. Wood backing.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Satinwood, Giltwood
American Federal Giltwood and Cream Painted Eagle Bullseye Convex Mirror
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Regency style convex bullseye wall mirror featuring a carved eagle with open wings standing on foliate branches and 13 small spheres representing the original 1...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Federal Gilt-Wood & Eglomise Painted Mirror
Located in Huntington, NY
This American Federal gilt-wood mirror dates
Circa 1790, it’s lower rectangular antique mirror plate below
A black, white & gold verre e...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century Continental Style Giltwood Frame Wall Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Continental Style Giltwood Frame Wall Mirror. Measures 19" in width 34.5" in height.
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Mirror, Giltwood
Mid-Century Italian Carved Eagle Giltwood Federal Style Mirrors, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of carved giltwood eagle mirrors with Federal styling in very good condition. They are Italian and most likely date to the 60s. The pair are unmarked.
Category
Mid-20th Century Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Chippendale Style Mahogany and Giltwood Mallard Duck Oval Wall Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Chippendale Style Mahogany and Giltwood Mallard Duck Oval Wall Mirror. Item features very fine and detailed wood carvings, gold accents surrounding the frame, and classic Chi...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Federal Eglomise Wall or Table Mirror
Located in Manhasset, NY
A finely detailed Eglomise decorated wall or table mirror having a glass eglomise panel of a young girl in a wooded area flanked in a Fine gilt frame reminiscent of the time of manuf...
Category
1890s Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Vintage Regency Gilt Federal Convex Eagle Mirror
Located in west palm beach, FL
Make a grand statement with this stunning Vintage Regency Gilt Federal Convex Eagle Mirror. A true masterpiece of Federal-style design, this mirror features a convex glass center fra...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
19th-20th Century Federal Style Crest Mirror
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th-20th century Federal style crest mirror. In a very fine water gilt bamboo form frame. The reflection from a hanging chandelier is what is appearing a...
Category
20th Century Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror
19th Century Federal Eglomise Decorated Wall or Table Mirror
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th century federal eglomise decorated wall or table mirror having a wonderfully gilt decorated frame under an eglomise glass panel depicting a baske...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
A Federal Mahogany Mirror with Eagle Motif, American ca. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Federal Mahogany Mirror with Gilt Eagle Crest and Bronze Dore Accents.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood
American Gilt Wood and Ebonized Foliage Convex Wall Mirror, Circa 1825
Located in Charleston, SC
American gilt wood and ebonized foliage convex mirror. Early 19th century. Mirror retains the original silvered glass and wood backing.
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique American Federal Broken Arch Mahogany Mirror with Urn Inlay
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Federal broken arch Mahogany mirror with urn Inlay. Item features pencil inlay to frame, satinwood urn inlay to crest, carved mahogany frame...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Mirrors
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Federal Style Gilded Carved Wood Mirror, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
Federal Style Gilded Carved Wood Mirror, 19th Century
Carved wood American Federal style parcel-gilt wall mirror featuring a broken scroll ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Nathaniel Bowditch American Federal Giltwood Convex Mirror of Monumental Size
Located in Essex, MA
Monumental and historically important Salem Massachusetts giltwood convex mirror. Purchased by Nathaniel Bowditch for his Salem House around 1810-15. Carved a...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
American Federal Gilt and Ebonized Dolphin Foliage Convex Mirror. Circa 1800
By A. Belokopytoff
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal gilt carved wood convex mirror with a perched intertwined dolphin on a rocky ledge, ebonized reeded banding, circular ball m...
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Gesso, Glass, Wood, Ebony, Giltwood
Federal Style Circular Mirror, Giltwood Wall / Pier / Vanity
Located in Manhasset, NY
Federal style circular mirror, giltwood wall / Pier / vanity
A Petite Federal style mirror that would compliment any Hollywood Regency or Mid-Century Modern décor. fine giltwood c...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Federal Style Carved Giltwood Wall / Console / Pier Mirror, Over Mantle , 1900s
Located in Manhasset, NY
Antique Federal Style Carved Giltwood Wall / console / Pier mirror, 1900s
A finely carved versatile mirror that can be used on the floor or over the mantle, console or hanging on ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
American Federal Style Mirror With Mallard Duck
Located in Pasadena, CA
American Federal Style Mirror With Mallard Duck. Measures approx 5 deep x 32 wide x 58 high
Category
1920s American Vintage Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Federal Guild Gold Framed Wall Mirror
Located in Manhasset, NY
A simply stunning and sweet 19th century Federal guild gold framed wall mirror. This finely gilt wall mirror has a reverse painting of two love...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Mirrors
19th C. Mirror American Wood Carved Federal
Located in Newfoundland, PA
Early wood carved Federal mirror. This would be a wonderful addition to your decor. Please be sure to check our storefront for more wonderful decorating pieces that range from Primit...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Federal Style Mahogany Mirror With Carved Giltwood Grouse
Located in Sheridan, CO
Antique mahogany frame federal mirror wall gold gilt carved bird. Item features gold gilt carved bird, carved and shaped frame, wood frame, beautiful wood gr...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood
Early 19th Century American Federal Gilt Overmantel Mirror
Located in Long Island City, NY
This American Federal-period overmantel composition mirror features a gilt carved wood and gesso frame. A sculpted eagle is perched above an églomisé panel depicting flowers. Separating the panels of original mirror glass are engaged Corinthian columns, and atop each of the ends are flame-and-leaf finials. The mirror is of an unusual design, but two Federal-period New York mirrors...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood, Mirror
Federal mirrors for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Federal mirrors for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage mirrors created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include mirrors, case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal mirrors made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original mirrors, popular names associated with this style include Biggs Furniture, Borghese, Foster Brothers, and Friedman Brothers. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for mirrors differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $97,850 while the average work can sell for $1,997.