Pier Mirror
Object NamePier Mirror
MediumGlass, Walnut, marble
Dimensions102 1/2 × 32 × 5 1/2 in. (260.4 × 81.3 × 14 cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Louise and Henry L. Eichling. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object number76.28.1
Status
On viewCultureAmerican
Label TextFrom the University Museums Collections Handbook, vol. 2, 2025:
The Pier Mirror is a tall mirror designed to be placed between windows or in the entry to a home. It provided a last look when leaving the house or before welcoming guests into a home. Strategically placed, the mirror reflected light into poorly lit halls and entry rooms. It is believed that these European mirrors first made their appearance in America courtesy of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson commissioned a pair of Neoclassical pier mirrors from Philadelphia carver James Reynolds for installation in Monticello’s parlor. The monumental pair created an impressive symmetrical composition and increased the light in the room.
Pier Mirrors, like the example in the foyer at the Farm House, often have a small table or shelf below. The materials framing the mirror can range from simple carved wood to ornate gilded adornments. The Farm House’s example is framed in walnut in the Eastlake style. This style, highlighted at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, is rooted in geometric designs, low relief carvings, and incising that ranges from subtle to artistically complex.
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum, Hallway
Object Name: Chest of drawers with attached mirror
Object number: 74.24.3
