The Piece

A refined early 20th-century round wall mirror, crafted between 1905 and 1925, featuring delicately acid-etched floral garlands along the lower arc of the glass. The composition is restrained and lyrical—small blossoms and elongated leaves rendered with quiet precision, floating against clear silvered glass.

Neither ornate nor austere, this mirror occupies the elegant middle ground between late Art Nouveau naturalism and the emerging symmetry of early Art Deco. Its simplicity is intentional: an object designed to soften a room, not dominate it.

Suspended by chain and finished with a gently beveled edge, the mirror retains the subtle irregularities of hand-finished glass—details that signal age, authenticity, and craftsmanship.

Design & Construction

→ Materials
Early plate glass with original silver backing
Acid-etched decorative motif
Beveled, hand-polished edge

→ Form & Motif
Circular format symbolizing harmony and balance
Botanical garland etched in shallow relief
Negative space used as a design element

→ Craft Technique
Acid etching (not engraved), producing a soft matte contrast
Hand-finished perimeter with visible period character

Historical Context

Etched mirrors of this type were produced in France and neighboring regions during the first decades of the 20th century, often intended for private interiors rather than commercial settings. Their purpose was intimate—used in bedrooms, dressing rooms, and entryways where light, reflection, and refinement mattered more than display.

This piece reflects a cultural shift away from Victorian excess toward modern restraint, making it especially compatible with contemporary interiors today.

Condition

Good antique condition, consistent with age.

→ Light foxing and silver wear at edges
→ Minor surface marks visible only under raking light
→ Etching remains sharply defined and intact

All wear is honest, stable, and appropriate to the mirror’s age.

Product Details

→ Type: Antique round wall mirror
→ Era: Late Edwardian / Early Art Deco transition
→ Date Range: c. 1905–1925
→ Likely Origin: Continental Europe (French-influenced decorative glass tradition)
→ Materials: Silvered plate glass with acid-etched decoration
→ Motif: Floral garland / botanical swag with blossoms and leaves (etched along the lower arc)
→ Edge Detail: Gently beveled, hand-polished perimeter
→ Mounting: Chain-hung (chain appears later/reinforced; mirror presents correctly)
→ Condition: Good antique condition with age-appropriate foxing/desilvering and light surface wear; etching remains crisp and intact
→ Best Placement: Entry console, vanity, powder room, gallery wall layering, above a petite chest or sideboard

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This mirror offers quiet sophistication—the kind that doesn’t announce itself but rewards attention. It layers effortlessly into modern, transitional, European, and collected interiors, adding depth without heaviness.

It works beautifully:
→ above a console or vanity
→ in a powder room or bedroom
→ layered within a salon wall or gallery arrangement

This is not a reproduction, and not a trend piece. It is an object of continuity—designed over a century ago and still relevant because of its restraint, balance, and craftsmanship.