Handmade frame water gilded with 6 kt gold . Interior panel with hand incised crescent moon and star sgraffito on an olive background. Mirror is hand gilded in palladium leaf and sterling silver creating a beautifully aged and dappled reflection. Outer dimension of 17.5” x 14.5”

Troy M Stafford Designs produces one-of-a-kind, handcrafted mirror artworks rooted in centuries-old European gilding traditions. Each piece is made entirely from scratch, including hand-milled moldings, traditionally prepared substrates, and water-gilded surfaces using genuine precious metals.

Mirrors are gilded directly on glass using traditional water gilding techniques, resulting in a depth, warmth, and reflection unlike contemporary mirror production. Decorative patterns are hand-drawn and etched into the surface using Renaissance-era sgraffito methods and handmade styluses, ensuring that no two works are ever alike.

All pieces are fully bespoke. Custom sizes, designs, and commissions are welcomed, with each work reflecting a commitment to historic process, exceptional materials, and uncompromising craftsmanship.

My name is Troy Stafford, and I am the artist behind Troy M Stafford Designs. After more than twenty-five years working in the art world—creating custom frames for museums and private collectors worldwide—I developed a body of bespoke mirror artworks that place historic craftsmanship at the center of contemporary luxury.

Each piece is conceived and executed entirely by hand, beginning with raw lumber that I mill, shape, and finish into custom moldings. Using centuries-old techniques, I prepare every surface with hand-mixed paints made from rabbit skin glue, marble dust, and natural earth clays. Ten to fifteen brushed coats of traditional gesso and clay are applied to achieve a refined, flawless foundation for water gilding.

Sheets of precious metals are floated onto the surface using water, allowing the wetted clay to capture and bind the gold. Once dry, the surface is carefully burnished with agate stones to achieve an exceptional depth and high luster unattainable through modern methods. Decorative patterns are drawn, incised, and etched by hand using traditional Italian Renaissance sgraffito techniques and handmade tools, ensuring that each work is entirely unique.

The mirrors themselves are gilded directly on glass using traditional water gilding methods, creating a richness of reflection and material presence unlike any contemporary mirror production. The result is an object that is both functional and sculptural—reflecting light, craftsmanship, and history in equal measure.

All works by Troy M Stafford Designs are one-of-a-kind and made from scratch. Custom commissions, sizes, and designs are welcomed, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a truly bespoke object defined by heritage materials, uncompromising technique, and enduring elegance.