The Drombeg Mirror
In November 2024, Robert Kime is launching our Drombeg Mirror.
A new reproduction accessory, named for the small axial stone circle near Ardagh, Ireland, where Robert had a house overlooking the water.
Irish oval mirrors grew in popularity in the late 18th Century when the Irish lead glass industry was at its peak and this ability to successfully access high quality glass was capitalised on following the opening of the Waterford factory in Ireland. The majority of mirrors made in that era were similar in style to the Drombeg mirror in their oval shape, and this is where we got our inspiration from. Stylistically, these Irish mirrors take inspiration from the Regency oval and circular mirrors being made in England at this point, with gilt gesso frames, fluted or plain ebonised slips and applied gilt spheres.
Antique mirrors have long been an interesting and much-used accessory by the projects team at Robert Kime. Robert had several examples in his collection and frequently sourced them specifically for design projects. Much like the origins of the Robert Kime fabrics, where Robert developed the first one, ‘Tree of Life’ in response to a growing scarcity of antique textiles for his projects, interesting examples of Irish Mirrors, particularly in pairs, have been increasingly hard to source. Over the last year, led by Orlando, we’ve been developing our version of this versatile piece, made to order by British craftsmen who use time-honoured skills and approaches to create the Drombeg mirror for us.
The frames of the Drombeg mirror are meticulously and individually made from tulipwood on lathes in the workshop, before being assembled by hand. Each features a moulded edge with alternating bands of black lacquer and gilt, which are finished using traditional techniques. Coated with layers of gesso and shellac they are then hand finished to replicate the natural patina that would develop over time.
A crosshatched embellishment is etched onto the gold leaf by hand using traditional jade tools to create interest whilst each glass gem is backed individually with white gold leaf before being placed onto the frame. The mirror is completed by inserting mirror panes into the frame. These panes are individually aged, to ensure each mirror has a unique and interesting appearance.

“Mirrors help to subtly establish the atmosphere of a room. They add interest in a drawing room and can elevate even a simple cloakroom or hallway so we use them consistently in projects. Developing and introducing the Drombeg mirror for the collection continues to builds on our focus on British craft at Robert Kime.” - Orlando Atty
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