ANTIQUE MIRRORS

An antique mirror is any mirror produced at least over 100 years ago. Contemporary artisans occasionally create pieces that appear antique since the style of old mirrors is timeless. From ornamental mirrors to functional ones, there are numerous varieties of antique mirrors available from Overmantels.

How to Identify an Antique Mirror

Antique mirrors are commonly made of glass coated by silver, gold, or chrome. Outside of the use of tin and mercury in Venetian antique mirrors, which causes a mirrors to develop a crystalline appearance as it ages, there are other telltale signs of a mirror’s age. Modern manufacturing of glass has largely eliminated bubbles and other impurities from being captured in panes, so seeing bubbles often indicates the mirror you are looking at is an antique.

Oxidization is Beautiful

Because antique mirrors are generally backed by a very thin sheet of reflective metal, like silver or gold, you can expect to notice some level of oxidization over time. Due to the accumulation of moisture seeping between the glass and the sheet of metal, oxidation will most likely be visible towards the bottom of the mirror. Any micro scratches or abrasions will also result in some amount of oxidization. Oxidization typically resembles dark blotches on the mirror, and is very rarely uniform. In some modern reproductions of antique mirrors, oxidization is applied to add to an authentic appearance.

Caring for Antique Mirrors

If you do choose to purchase an antique mirror, it is important to embrace imperfection. Though some grease smudges, fingerprints, and dust can and should be cleaned off, antique mirrors are often very prone to damage during cleaning. When dusting your mirror, do your best to be gentle, taking care not to abrasively rub the frame as this may cause chipping. Additionally, clean the glass of the mirror, but take care with the back, as this may wear off or scratch important metal coating. If a light cleaning of the glass and a little bit of dusting just won’t do, there are certainly ways to restore an antique mirror while maintaining its’ integrity and charm. Sometimes, the frame, especially if it is wood, requires a bit of refinishing. If the mirror is extremely blotchy, it’s possible to strip the silvering on the back of the glass and resilver it, though this can be a very delicate procedure and is probably best left to a professional.