THIS OBJECT IS PART OF THE PROJECT 'A HISTORY OF CORNWALL IN 100 OBJECTS'.
TREWITHEN HOUSE. A Georgian mirror or a mirror of Georgian Cornwall?, this mirror is one of a pair that still hangs in its original place at Trewithen House near Probus. It dates from the early 18th century.
One can only guess what this mirror reflected; carousing after Thomas Hawkins election as Grampound MP or more sedate occasions when Ann played her London spinet. Dr Johnson and his companion James Boswell were among the famous visitors to this house.
The Hawkins of Trewithen had more modern tastes than most of their Cornish friends; William Borlase, rector of Ludgvan, being the notable exception. Ann Heywood who married Thomas Hawkins brought her London-tastes to Cornwall. More importantly she also brought a sizeable dowry. The young couple employed Robert Taylor, then the leading architect, in the 1750s and bought Reynolds paintings rather than Opies (see St Agnes, St Michael's Mount).
Photo: Bernie Pettersen
Trewithen mirror
Contributed by Cornwall Museums
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