Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
1770s Italian Neoclassical Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Early 18th Century European Régence Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Gold Leaf
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror
Mid-18th Century European Louis XV Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Giltwood
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Fruitwood, Giltwood
18th Century Italian Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Wood
1830s Italian Other Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Ebony, Elm, Purpleheart
1760s English George II Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Walnut, Burl
Early 18th Century French Régence Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
18th Century Italian Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Poplar
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Wood
18th Century English Baroque Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Walnut, Burl
1760s Irish George III Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
16th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Walnut
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Canvas, Mirror, Oak, Walnut, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Giltwood, Mercury Glass
18th Century and Earlier German Rococo Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Giltwood
18th Century Antique Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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.