Christophe Gaignon’s mirrors are made by hand in France from moulded, tinted glass, and no two are alike. They hang on a wall like any mirror, yet they behave like sculpture, bending light and colour as you move past them. Here is how a self-taught artist found his way to a centuries-old Venetian technique, and how to live with his work.
Who is Christophe Gaignon?
Christophe Gaignon is a self-taught French artist. He did not arrive at glass through a design school. He spent years in the art world alongside antique dealers and decorators, and that education shows in his work: a respect for old techniques, and an eye for how an object holds its own in a room.
He draws his inspiration from nature and from music. You can see both in the pieces. The surfaces swell and soften like water, and the colours shift in a way that feels closer to a chord than to a single note.
How are his mirrors made?
In 1999, Gaignon became interested in an old Venetian method of making convex mirrors with silver amalgam. What drew him in was the nature of glass itself, a material he describes through its “frozen plasticity”: hard and still, yet formed from something that once flowed.
From there, he taught himself how silver oxide reacts with glass, experimenting with shades and colours until he could control them. His mirrors are made from moulded glass tinted in the mass, so the colour runs through the material rather than sitting on its surface. Each piece is shaped and finished by hand, which is why every Gaignon mirror is one of a kind.
Is it a mirror or a work of art?
It is both, and that is the point. A flat mirror shows you the room as it is. A Gaignon mirror gathers it. The convex surface pulls the whole space into a single curved view, and the tinted glass washes that view in gold, blue, black or rose.
It still does the work of a mirror. It brings light deeper into a room and opens up a wall. But it asks to be looked at, not just looked into. In that way it sits comfortably beside the sculptural furniture and collectible design we carry at South Hill Home, as a piece that is used every day and admired every day.
Each mirror is meticulously handcrafted and signed by the artist, making every piece a singular work of art. Because of this, no two mirrors are exactly alike. What you are buying isn’t just a mirror, but a unique piece of craftsmanship, where each detail and imperfection tells its own story.
The response from our clients has been overwhelmingly positive. They are struck by the beauty of Christophe Gaignon’s mirrors and the presence they bring to a room. Each piece stands out as a work of art, adding character and an unexpected punch to an interior.
Through my research into silver oxidation on glass, I play with reflection, movement and light, drawing on the shades that nature offers. Blue, pink, green, silver oxide and gold, purple, black, colours to carry you away into the imagination. The mirror then becomes a painting, a unique piece. My work is the result of know-how, technicality and the mastery of imaginative powers.
Christophe Gaignon
The Christophe Gaignon mirrors at South Hill Home
Our Christophe Gaignon collection includes single, double and triple compositions in several tints:
- Gold: the Gold Mirror, Gold Double Mirror and Gold Triple Mirror
- Blue: the Blue Mirror and Blue Double Mirror
- Black: the Black Mirror and Black Double Mirror
- Pink: the Pink Mirror
- Silver oxide pieces: the Gold Silver Oxide 3D Mirror and the Silver Gold Oxide Mirror with Small Lentil Detail
Many of the pieces are large, roughly 107 to 120 cm across. Sizes and finishes can be customized, and each request is confirmed by the artist himself.
How to place a Gaignon mirror at home
- Give it a wall of its own. A Gaignon mirror is the focal point. Keep the wall around it clear so the shape and colour can be read from across the room.
- Hang it where the light moves. Opposite or beside a window, the tint changes through the day. Morning light and evening lamplight give two different pieces.
- Think about what it reflects. Because the surface is convex, it captures a wide view. Stand where it will hang and look at what it will gather: a dining table, a staircase, a view outside.
- Use the doubles and triples on long walls. Above a console, a sideboard or a long sofa, a double or triple composition fills the space the way a single painting would.
- Let the furniture stay quiet. Simple forms and natural materials around it let the mirror carry the room.
Browse more pieces in our designer mirrors collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is every Christophe Gaignon mirror one of a kind?
Yes. Each mirror is shaped and tinted by hand, so the colour and surface vary from piece to piece.
Can I order a different size or colour?
Yes. Gaignon’s mirrors can be customized, and every request is confirmed by the artist. Our team can guide you through the options.
Where can I see his mirrors in Toronto?
Visit the South Hill Home showroom at 146 Dupont Street, Toronto, or call (416) 924-7224 to arrange a visit.
Interested in a Christophe Gaignon mirror? Request a quote or contact our showroom.
