Triptych Mirrors

These mirrors first appeared in the latter half of the 18th century often to designs by the reknowned Classical architect Robert Adam. Mirror glass in the 18th century was a very expensive item and was only really available in relatively small sheets, thus making the three panel TRIPTYCH frame - a familiar shape as an alterpiece - a convenient way of making a wide oblong mirror to go over the fireplace (or chimneypiece). The frieze above the glass often incorporated an Architectural form or a Classical mythological theme. The glass was poured into a mould that had a mitred lip around the edge giving the glass a bevelled appearance. These Triptych mirrors were often called Vauxhall mirrors after the glassworks that first produced them in the 18th century. You can choose from a number of different friezes below.