Vintage 1961 British Government Issue Mirror – Broad Arrow / Crow’s Foot Stamp –

Vintage 1961 British Government Issue Mirror – Broad Arrow / Crow’s Foot Stamp – Clarke & Co. (Heywood) Ltd

30 cm wide

39 cm tall

2 cm depth

Displayed with other items illustration only not included very heavy well made mirror

A fascinating vintage British wall mirror, dated April 1961 and stamped to the reverse by Clarke & Co. (Heywood) Ltd. What makes this mirror especially interesting is the presence of the crow’s foot / broad arrow stamp, the traditional British mark used to identify government or Crown property.

Simple, practical and quietly stylish, this mirror has a rectangular bevelled glass plate, wooden backing board and metal retaining clips. Its utilitarian construction is typical of mid-20th-century institutional design, made for function, durability and everyday use rather than ornament.

The reverse is stamped:

21B 1875

Clarke & Co. (Heywood) Ltd

April 1961

The broad arrow / crow’s foot mark suggests this mirror may originally have been supplied for government, military or public-service use. It has a wonderful social-history appeal, making it ideal for collectors of British military stores, institutional design, mid-century utility pieces or vintage interiors.

Maker History

The maker’s stamp identifies the supplier as Clarke & Co. (Heywood) Ltd, likely a mid-20th-century British manufacturer or contractor based in Heywood, Lancashire. While a detailed public history for this exact firm is difficult to verify, the presence of the dated stamp and crow’s foot mark strongly suggests that Clarke & Co. supplied mirrors or household fittings under a government or institutional contract.

The broad arrow, also known as the crow’s foot, has long been associated with British government property, including military and official stores. It became especially linked with the Board of Ordnance, War Department and later Ministry of Defence use.

Condition

In good vintage condition with clear signs of age and use. There is foxing, spotting and wear to the mirror plate, along with age-related marks to the backing board and metal clips. Some later screws appear to have been added to the hanging bracket. These signs of use are consistent with an authentic working mirror from 1961 and add to its industrial/institutional character.

Please check all fixings before wall hanging.

A rare and characterful vintage 1961 British wall mirror by Clarke & Co. (Heywood) Ltd, bearing the distinctive crow’s foot / broad arrow stamp to the reverse. This historic mark was traditionally used to denote British Crown or government property, giving this mirror far more interest than an ordinary domestic example.

A lovely piece of British social history: practical, understated and full of provenance.