Mid 20th century French, painted trumeau mirror. From Apartment Therapy: “In French, trumeau is the word for the thin section of wall between two doors or windows. The word was first used to describe a mirror on that section of wall in the early 1700s. By the middle of the century, it was used to describe a mirror above a mantle (in English, we call that a pier glass).
The trumeau mirror gained popularity among the growing upper-middle class, who were looking to emulate the wall-paneled aristocracy. One of the results of the Industrial Revolutions was the rise of the merchant class, who were making more money and then spending it on making their homes more like those of the ossified upper class in their old family estates with lots of wood paneling. In fact, some of these old estates were dismantled, with furnishings — and paneling — sold on the secondary market (image 5). So paneling was in. And mirrors were also in: by the middle of the 19th century, manufacturers had figured out how to make plate glass in large panels, so it was more practical and much less expensive to install mirrors. And so mirrors made out of old paneling, or with frames made to look like old paneling, would have also been in.”
This trumeau is 49” in height and 23.75” wide. The mirror itself is 14.5” at its highest point and 11” at its widest. This piece is in overall condition consistent with age and style (see photos and condition notes for more information).
DETAILS
Dimensions
- 23.75ʺW × 2.5ʺD × 49ʺH
- Period
- Mid 20th Century
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Condition
- Good Condition, Unknown, Some Imperfections
- Condition Notes
- Pictured: Some chips to wood, wear to paint throughout. Mirror is aged. Condition consistent with age, use and style.
- Styles
- French
- Materials
- Mirror
- Paint
- Wood
