Mirror and drawers thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Mirror and drawers

Toilet Glass
1790-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A toilet glass is a small cabinet with a swinging mirror. It usually sat on a lady's dressing table. Such furniture was often highly decorative and personalised. The owner of this example, for instance, had her initials, 'T.F.', engraved on the oval cresting. This toilet glass is of sandalwood, veneered in ivory. It was made at the Indian coastal town of Vizagapatam, where furniture makers produced western-style furniture embellished with ivory. The decoration is in the Neo-classical style popular when the piece was made in 1790-1800.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMirror and drawers
Materials and techniques
Sandalwood, veneered with engraved ivory, with silver mounts. The ivory is from the African elephant, Loxodonta africana. Sandalwood, Santalum Album, is from India
Brief description
Toilet glass; mirror on a stand, sandalwood, veneered with engraved ivory, Vishakhapatnam, 1790-1800.
Physical description
Toilet glass; mirror on a stand, sandalwood, veneered with engraved ivory, with silver mounts.
Dimensions
  • Height: 104cm
  • Width: 58cm
  • Depth: 31.5cm
Object history
Neo-classical ornament of this type characterizes Vizagapatam work of the 1790s.
Summary
A toilet glass is a small cabinet with a swinging mirror. It usually sat on a lady's dressing table. Such furniture was often highly decorative and personalised. The owner of this example, for instance, had her initials, 'T.F.', engraved on the oval cresting. This toilet glass is of sandalwood, veneered in ivory. It was made at the Indian coastal town of Vizagapatam, where furniture makers produced western-style furniture embellished with ivory. The decoration is in the Neo-classical style popular when the piece was made in 1790-1800.
Bibliographic references
  • Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224., p.202-203, pl.179.
  • Luxury goods from India : the art of the Indian cabinet maker / Amin Jaffer. London: V&A Publications, 2002 Number: 1851773819 pp.90-91
Collection
Accession number
IS.31-1975

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Record createdNovember 29, 2002
Record URL
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