TRUMEAU
tru·meau [troo-moh; French try-moh]
noun, plural tru·meaux [troo-mohz; French try-moh]
1. Architecture. the pillar or center post supporting the lintel in the middle of a doorway, especially in a church.
2. an overmantel treatment of 18th century France consisting of a pier glass surmounted by an oil painting or decorative often carved panel.
Origin:
late 19th century < French: literally, calf of the leg.
The French word trumeau in architecture refers to a column, pier or post found at the center of a large portal or doorway, supporting the lintel.
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| Central Architectural Support |
Trumeau mirrors first gained popularity in the 18th century with the French aristocracy. Primarily designed to hang on a wall between windows, these highly ornate and often gilded wall
mirrors were a centerpiece for 18th century interiors. They added a decorative element while
bringing more light to the room. Before the use of trumeau mirrors, panes of glass were
installed in paneled walls to add light to a room.
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| 19th Century French Trumeau Mirror. Circa 1880. Hand Carved and Painted White with Original Gilded Finish. Provence, France. |
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| Source: Cote de Texas |
By day the mirror would reflect sunlight throughout the room and at night it would reflect candle light. Candle holders were hung on the wall on either side of the mirror to increase ambient light or placed in front of trumeau mirrors designed to be hung above a mantelpiece rather than between windows.
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| Over Mantel Trumeau Mirror. Circa 1890. Hand Carved and Painted French Blue. Original Glass. |
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| Source: Between Naps On The Porch |
Antique trumeau mirrors are almost always painted and rectangular. The lower half or
two-thirds of the frame contains the mirror and the upper portion is decorated with ornate
gilding or a hand-painted scene. Some very rare trumeaus were designed with
gilded candle holders attached to either the bottom portion or sides of the frame. Very large trumeaus are often seen leaned or propped against a wall in homes today.
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| Antique French Louis XIV Style Trumeau Mirror. Circa 1880. Featuring Original Oil Painting of French Scène de Cour. |
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| Large Trumeau Mirror Makes Statement Leaning Against Wall |
Lolo has designed and created his own line of trumeau mirrors using antique lighted sconces above the mirror instead of a painting. These hand crafted solid wood mirrors are perfect for the foyer above a console, in a bath above the sink (especially if space is tight and there's not much room for sconces on either side of the mirror) and look beautiful in pairs or one large single above a buffet. You can also use them in the bedroom over bedside tables. They come in standard sizes but can be custom made to order.
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| Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo. Pair of Trumeau Mirrors with Antique Lighted Sconces. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
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| Trumeau Mirror By Lolo. Large Single Trumeau Mirror with Antique Lighted Sconce. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
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| Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo. Small Single Trumeau Mirror with Antique Lighted Sconce. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
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| Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo. Pair of Trumeau Mirrors with Antique Lighted Sconces. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
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| Trumeau Mirrors By Lolo. Large Single Trumeau Mirror with Antique Lighted Sconce. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
And we thought the one shown above would work wonderfully as a new sign for
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| New Sign for First Find At The Farm Antique Show |
He also makes trumeaus with antique pediments and castings from antique pediments.
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| Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Antique Pediment Top. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
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| Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo. Hand Crafted by Lolo. Antique Pediment Top. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
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| Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo. Hand Crafted by Lolo. The Flambeau. Solid Wood Finished with an Antique French Gesso Technique Learned in Paris. Hard Wired or Plug-In. |
If you are interested in having your own Trumeau Mirrors by Lolo, please contact us at info@lolofrenchantiques.com.
Á Bientôt!
Lolo & Mimi
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