Toilet Mirror
1700 - 1710 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Small free-standing mirrors, designed to stand on a dressing-table, were known as toilet glasses in the 17th and early 18th centuries. The term toilet at that period referred to a lady's dressing table and its accessories. From the late 18th century onwards such mirrors were described as dressing glasses. A. Hepplewhite & Co. illustrated several 'dressing glasses' in The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide published in 1788, with later editions in 1789 and 1794 . This example, with a tall rectangular bevelled glass and a shaped top, and burr-walnut veneer, dates from about 1700. The drawer underneath the glass is divided into small compartments by shaped partitions.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Walnut and burr walnut veneers on oak and pine. Brass fittings and ivory escutcheon. |
| Brief description | Dressing mirror veneered in burr walnut with rectangular mirror and a drawer below |
| Physical description | The bevelled mirror plate is enclosed within a moulded framework, shaped with shallow scrolls at the top and has an inner border of carved and gilt leaf moulding. It is supported on slightly tapered uprights which have small brass finials. The lower portion is veneered with figured burr walnut with borders of herring bone inlay. It is fitted with a drawer divided into compartments by shaped partitions. It is supported on bracket feet with a small pendal in the centre. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | On long-term loan to Valentines Mansion and Garden, Ilford, Redbridge 2009-2014 [RF 2008/536]. Previously this object had been loaned to Kew Palace from 1974 until 2007. |
| Summary | Small free-standing mirrors, designed to stand on a dressing-table, were known as toilet glasses in the 17th and early 18th centuries. The term toilet at that period referred to a lady's dressing table and its accessories. From the late 18th century onwards such mirrors were described as dressing glasses. A. Hepplewhite & Co. illustrated several 'dressing glasses' in The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide published in 1788, with later editions in 1789 and 1794 . This example, with a tall rectangular bevelled glass and a shaped top, and burr-walnut veneer, dates from about 1700. The drawer underneath the glass is divided into small compartments by shaped partitions. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.22:1, 2-1931 |
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| Record created | August 10, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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