Here is a piece written for AntiquesAvenue by Graham Smith – a well respected member of the Antiques Trade :

One of the many delights of being an antiques dealer is the likelihood of customers becoming friends because of a shared passion for good or interesting articles. Now and again I come across the opportunity to buy back an item that I have sold some time in the past – it’s always a pleasure to have such items in stock again. Recently I had just such an opportunity – a good customer of mine who lives in North Yorkshire was rearranging his life style and decided to rent out his house and move into a cottage. The phrase ‘getting a quart into a pint pot’ springs to mind as this gentleman had a habit of buying items he liked regardless of whether he had space to fit them in his home! I would describe his house as Dickensian – wonderful items everywhere but still nowhere to sit because of piles of books on every chair!

I agreed to buy back several items and to sell the rest on his behalf. One of the items I bought back was a Regency mahogany cheval dressing mirror. I am sure if one searched around better mirrors could be found but it gave me great pleasure to have this particular mirror back in the shop once more.

I originally bought that mirror in Scotland some five years ago – it’s a Regency mahogany Cheval mirror with a pair of gilt brass candle sconces on the frame and wonderful lion mask decorated brass knobs holding the mirror in place. The colour of the mahogany is original and the condition still excellent. This particular piece is also practical for everyday use – not having the drawback of some Cheval mirrors; such a wide sweep on the base that a huge room is needed to accommodate them and the strong possibility of folk tripping over them!

So, where will the cheval mirror find its’ next home? Who knows!

 

Graham Smith