A hall mirror is a mirror designed for, or suited to, an entrance hall, where it allows a last check of appearance and reflects light into what is often a narrow or dim space. Hall mirrors range from simple wall mirrors and pier glasses to Victorian and Edwardian mirrors fitted with coat hooks, shelves or glove boxes, and full hall stands incorporating a mirror plate.
Mirrors were used in halls of grand houses from the eighteenth century, often as tall pier glasses set above console or pier tables between windows. In the Victorian period, as the middle-class hall became a distinct room, many specialised hall mirrors were produced in oak, mahogany, walnut and cast iron, frequently combined with hooks for coats and hats and holders for sticks and umbrellas. Arts and Crafts examples might feature copper or brass panels, and Edwardian makers produced lighter designs in the Georgian manner. Check the mirror plate for foxing or loss of silvering, the frame for damage and the strength of hooks. Old plates have a soft, slightly grey quality that many prefer. A well-chosen hall mirror makes a narrow hallway feel larger and adds a welcoming touch of period character.
