Reverse Mirror Paintings

Reverse mirror paintings, which is a type of trumeau mirror pronounced tro͞oˈmō, are wall mirrors usually with wooded frames that have paintings and/or sculptures on top of them. The trumeau mirror was first invented in France around the 18th century. They are also known as Tabernacle Mirrors. Tabernacle Mirrors has columns on both sides, cornice, and a painting panel above. Tabernacle mirrors were

The word trumeau means between two windows. These mirrors were mostly hanging on the wall between two windows to add more light to the room giving it the name trumeau mirror.

The reason these are referred to as reverse mirror painting and not trumeau is due to how it was painted. Reverse mirror paintings are created by the glass being painted on the backside in reverse. This technique of painting originated in China around 17th to 18th century.

The mirror paintings here are all wooden framed with designs craved into the wood and paintings on the top of the mirror.

“Tabernacle mirror From the family home of Lillian Andrews (1916-2003), 200 Cook Hill Road. The frame is pine and has applied half-round columns painted black with gilt turnings. The decorative upper panel is a reverse painting showing a highly stylized still life, which is crude enough to classify as American primitive art. Attached to the back is an old newspaper clipping describing a very similar mirror, which is identified as a "Tabernacle Mirror - Made in New England about 1825.”

Two-part with a reverse painting of "Constitution-Guerriere battle," the first naval battle in the War of 1812. The British frigate "Guerriere" surrendered and soon sank, a major American victory. The Constitution was commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, who was bom in Derby, CT in 1773