It’s a Wonderful Life

THE BEVELLED-EDGE MIRROR

by Erica Crompton

Ever since I was a child, I’ve had an appreciation of antiques. I grew up with parents who loved car boot sales, charity shops and all things vintage (before it became cool). More recently, I’d brought myself a tiny, white cottage in a little village in Staffordshire, to be closer to my family. Here, I decided to continue the family tradition of vintage interiors and antiques. I decided that the statement mirrors in the house should all be bevelled edged mirrors from the 1930s. These mirrors are usually heavy, wood-backed and frameless with cut-glass shaping around the edge and a chunky steel chain to hang them on that you can also see when the mirrors are hung.

The first 1930s mirrors I got were expense second-hand ones from eBay – around £45 each and I brought two – one for the lounge and one for the bathroom. I still needed one for the master bedroom. It wasn’t long before I felt it pressing to furnish the bedroom with a mirror as I had a guest who was visiting - I no longer had time to wait for the post from eBay. So I went into town to see if by chance I could find a vintage mirror in the charity shop. I looked in all of them, and there are a lot of second hand shops in the nearby town. I hardly saw any mirrors at all. In the end I was thinking about spending £100 for one in Laura Ashley but it wasn’t a patch on my small collection of bevelled-edged mirrors. Before I went to buy the expensive one, I thought I’d give one last charity shop ago – Dougie Mac. As soon as I walked in a song I love was playing (Castles in the Sky by Ian Van Dahl) and I suddenly felt I might find what I’m looking for. I instinctively went to the back of the shop and moved a big framed picture out the way. And there it was! My bevelled-edged mirror, a nice big one for the master bedroom – just £10! It felt amazing finding such a bargain at just the right time.

However, shortly afterwards my cat knocked the bathroom mirror off the wall and it smashed. I’m kinda superstitious and wondered if I’d get bad luck but remembered how fortuitous it was to find my bargain mirror for the master room and thought twice before worrying about my luck. I decided to return to Dougie Mac again, in case they had another nice mirror. And now I really do know I’m lucky – I found another bevelled edge mirror in there as soon as I walked in… for £3.10! I got it immediately and hung it in the bathroom as soon as I got home. I’ve come to see why my family love antiques and charity shops so much. It’s not just about having nice things – it’s the thrill and feeling of being lucky involved in hunting for bargain and finding one.

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