Lot Essay
Fashionable for bed or dressing rooms, Lord Mongomerie ordered several cheval glasses from Gillows in 1807 for Coilsfield House, Ayrshire (see S. E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, 2008, vol. II, p. 88, pl. 634). The firm also delivered several examples to Wilbraham Egerton for Dressing-Rooms at Tatton Park, invoiced in 1811-12 as 'a Handsome Cheval Dressing Glass in Mahogany frame, with turned Reeded stiles and a pair of brass Candel branches; on reeded claws and brass sockett Castors, plate 34 x 22 12 Gs 13.2.6' (N. Goodison and J. Hardy, 'Gillows at Tatton Park', Furniture History, vol. VI, 1970, p. 13, plate 17B). The most expensive element in such mirrors was the silvered glass itself, and the offered example is of particularly broad proportions.
A pair of identical cheval mirrors (with adjustable candlearms or brass branches and rods) from the Fenwick family, was sold Christie's, London, 6 July 2000, lot 98.
A pair of identical cheval mirrors (with adjustable candlearms or brass branches and rods) from the Fenwick family, was sold Christie's, London, 6 July 2000, lot 98.