Arts and Crafts Hand-Hammered Copper Oval Mirror with Riveted Straps c.1910

This Arts and Crafts hand-hammered copper oval mirror dates to around 1910 and exemplifies the late Arts and Crafts movement (1880–1910) and its continuation into domestic decorative metalwork. The hammered copper frame is bound with riveted strapwork, enclosing the original bevelled glass mirror plate.

The craftsmanship reflects the British vernacular decorative metalwork style, robust, functional, and ornamented through process rather than applied embellishment. The rhythmic hammering and exposed rivets convey the honesty of handmade construction central to the movement’s philosophy.

Mirrors of this type were produced by regional guilds and metalworkers influenced by the ideals of Ashbee’s Guild of Handicraft and the Keswick School of Industrial Art. They combined utility with beauty through visible technique.

Images of the mirror are available upon request.