Large Early 20th Century French Brass Bistro Mirror - 46" x 40¼"

From the bedroom at Chanteduc, Patricia and Walter Wells's farmhouse near Vaison-la-Romaine, comes this very large early 20th-century French brass bistro mirror — the kind of piece that once presided over a lively café or brasserie before finding its way into a more private life. The frame is substantial and architectural, its warm brass-toned metal formed into clean, reeded mouldings that catch the light with real depth. The profile is bold without being fussy — characteristically French in its confidence and restraint. The mirror plate has aged to a soft, silvery tone, carrying gentle foxing. Patricia is unequivocal about her affection for this piece. "I love big mirrors, especially in the bedroom," she explains. "One like this can be used as a full-length mirror and it brightens the room." At Chanteduc, it does exactly that — amplifying the luminous quality of the Provençal light. A mirror of this scale and character works equally well leaned against a wall or hung in a hallway, a dressing room, or a generous living space, where it will do what the best antiques always do: make a room feel both larger and more alive.