Mirrors have a long and noble history with the oldest surviving being over 8000 years old and made of polished Obsidian (volcanic glass). For thousands of years the necessary reflective quality was created using polished metals or stones, but in the 16th Century a new finish was invented using a mercury and tin amalgam. At the time Venice was the centre for such Mirror production with this new technique was initially kept a closely guarded secret. Extremely hard to make in large sheets, most early mirror frames instead incorporated smaller plates joined together. Large mirrors only became possible in the late 18th Century and were prohibitively expensive for all but the elite.
Today a mirror is just as important in any room as in the past bringing light and elegance. Of course, there are many different forms from wall mirrors or Overmantle mirrors to dressing mirrors and handheld. However whichever you decide on, there is nothing that beats the character of antique and vintage examples. At LoveAntiques you will find amazing old mirrors of all sorts for all your needs.
Camden Antiques
Inlaid Satinwood Dressing Table Mirror
£ 495
£ 1,295
Antique Bureau Mirror, English, Dressing Table, Boudoir, Georgian, Circa 1800
£ 1,295
London Fine Ltd
Tony Youll Antiques
Very Decorative Gilt Mirror
£ 975
Tony Youll Antiques
Gilt Mirror with Garlands and Swags
£ 950
Worboys Antiques
Edwardian Mahogany Wall Mirror
£ 245
Antique & Decorative
Victorian Circular Gilt Mirror
£ 390
Cleall Antiques
Stunning Large Highly Decorative Shaped Top Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 695
Stunning Large Highly Decorative Shaped Top Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 695
Cleall Antiques
£ 695
Large Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood And Gesso Plain Painted Mirror
£ 695
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Highly Decorative Original Early Antique 19th Century French Distressed Painted Louis Philippe Mirror
£ 695
Highly Decorative Original Early Antique 19th Century French Distressed Painted Louis Philippe Mirror
£ 695
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Superb Highly Decorative Large Antique 19th Century English Carved Wood & Gesso Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 995
Superb Highly Decorative Large Antique 19th Century English Carved Wood & Gesso Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 995
Cleall Antiques
£ 650
Delightful Large Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 650
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Delightful Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Arched Top Distressed Louis Philippe Mirror
£ 595
Delightful Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Arched Top Distressed Louis Philippe Mirror
£ 595
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Superb Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Orignal Gilt Pier Mirror
£ 1,295
Superb Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Orignal Gilt Pier Mirror
£ 1,295
Cleall Antiques
£ 1,295
Delightful Large Antique French 19th Century Wood Painted Shaped Top Mirror
£ 1,295
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood Distressed Painted Ornate Mirror
£ 495
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood Distressed Painted Ornate Mirror
£ 495
Cleall Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Cheval Mirror
£ 575
£ 795
£ 795
Delightful Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Shaped Top Mirror
£ 795
Cleall Antiques
£ 1,995
Spectacular Large Antique French Carved Wood & Gesso Orignal Gilt & Painted Mirror
£ 1,995
Cleall Antiques
£ 550
Highly Useful Size Antique French Carved Wood Painted Plain Bistro Mirror
£ 550
Cleall Antiques
£ 750
Cleall Antiques
Spectacular Large Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood Original Silvered Bistro Mirror
£ 1,250
Spectacular Large Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood Original Silvered Bistro Mirror
£ 1,250
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Fabulous Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Painted Pier Mirror
£ 750
Fabulous Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Painted Pier Mirror
£ 750
Cleall Antiques
£ 1,495
Fabulous Large Antique French Ornate 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Painted Mirror
£ 1,495
Cleall Antiques
£ 995
Superb Large Antique 19th Century French Carved Wood Painted Shaped Top Mirror
£ 995
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Gilt Painted Mirror
£ 495
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Gilt Painted Mirror
£ 495
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Spectacular Large Antique French 19th Century Painted Carved Wood & Gesso Original Gilt Shaped Top Cushion Mirror
£ 895
Spectacular Large Antique French 19th Century Painted Carved Wood & Gesso Original Gilt Shaped Top Cushion Mirror
£ 895
Cleall Antiques
£ 895
Fabulous Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 895
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Ribbed Framed Mirror
£ 495
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Ribbed Framed Mirror
£ 495
Cleall Antiques
£ 595
Wonderful Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Arched Top Gilt Mirror
£ 595
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Delightful Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 650
Delightful Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Distressed Painted Mirror
£ 650
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Spectacular Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Silvered & Painted Mirror
£ 1,250
Spectacular Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Silvered & Painted Mirror
£ 1,250
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Delightful Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Silver /g Gilt Mirror
£ 1,995
Delightful Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Original Silver /g Gilt Mirror
£ 1,995
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Spectacular Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood Painted Column Framed Mirror
£ 1,295
Spectacular Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood Painted Column Framed Mirror
£ 1,295
Cleall Antiques
Cleall Antiques
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Painted Plain Mirror
£ 650
Highly Useful Size Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood & Gesso Painted Plain Mirror
£ 650
Cleall Antiques
£ 750
Wonderful Large Antique French 19th Century Carved Wood Painted Shaped Top Mirror
£ 750
Cleall Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Table Top Vanity Mirror
£ 350
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Excellent Pair of Gilt Oval Mirrors
£ 895
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
English Regency Oval Gilt Mirror
£ 895
There are several ways to tell if a mirror is or not. The first is to look at the mirror plate itself. Mercury Mirrors first began to be used from the 16th Century and used thicker glass than today. You can gauge the glass thickness by placing an object like a pen or coin against the glass and spot the depth of the gap before the reflection begins. The mirror will also ‘sparkle’ and create a softer image than modern mirrors. Silver backed mirrors emerged in 1835 and the mirror has a slightly more yellow tint overall than new examples. Older mirrors are more liable to have imperfections and losses to the silvering. Modern mirrors are backed in a tin foil which produces a very crisp image. You can often also date a mirror from the frame, but it is important to recognise that old mirrors regularly get new mirror plates and old mirrors can be put into modern frames. Many people today ‘age’ modern mirrors using paint or artificial wear, but these can usually be differentiated from genuine old examples.
As a loved item in any home there are many forms and styles of mirror, although they are all for the same basic purpose. The most common types are convex mirrors (which are domed outwards and display a wider field of view than usual) and flat mirrors. Those placed above the fireplace and have a flat base are called Overmantel mirrors, while those originally intended to be hung over a side table are called Pier mirrors. Depending on the size there are several names for mirrors with their own stand. These are commonly called Cheval or Swing mirrors if they tilt and Toilet or Dressing mirrors if they were intended to be placed on top of a table or chest. Hand mirrors are held in the hand as the name suggests.
Like any piece of antique furniture antique and vintage mirrors can vary dramatically in price. This can be due to the size, look, rarity and overall desirability of the piece. Generally larger more grand mirrors always command more money than smaller because they are status symbols for wealth and antique examples are usually (with some exceptions) more valuable than vintage or modern mirrors. When purchasing a mirror online it is important to consider the shipping to yourself as this can be prohibitive. Most postal companies will not offer compensation for damage and personal couriers will often charge a slight premium for the extra care required. This is why it is worthwhile buying from our reputable dealers on LoveAntiques as they usually sort the delivery for you.
Many people today enjoy mirrors which appear weathered and worn as occurs naturally over time with antique silvered or mercury mirrors. While nothing beats original worn mirror plates, this is not always possible so weathered effects are created instead. There are lots of videos and descriptions online for how to ‘age’ a mirror but there are basically two approaches. The first is to take a modern mirror and create gaps and flaking to the foil backing using cleaning products, paint stripper and abrasives such as wire wool. These gaps are then accentuated with dark paint. The second approach is to begin with a clear sheet of glass and build up a weathered mirror look using layers of mirror-effect spray paint and an oil or washing up liquid to create natural defects and spots. Either approach can be quite effective and create a unique look.