Replacing Vanity Mirrors

[OcNikki]

I just bought a beautiful 1920's (possibly earlier) vanity but the mirrors are a little foggy. Is it possible to have the mirrors replaced? Is that a bad idea? This is my first piece of antique furniture, hopefully it will be the first of many to come. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Educate me!

 

[Sachet]

Hello OcNikki,

I too, have an antique vanity mirror that is a bit foggy and splotchy in
places. Personally, I enjoy the sense of time captured in the mirror
that the signs of aging convey to me. But, those very same qualities
can be extremely inconvenient when I am trying to see how a particular dress
or outfit looks.

From what I have read, it might not affect the value of the vanity to
have the mirror resilvered. That might be an option worth exploring?

Here's some info that I found online:

Resilvering mirrors
http://tinyurl.com/gz8rt



> Resilvering is commonly used for antique mirrors. These are often made
> from glass that has imperfections, such as air bubbles, small ripples
> or uneven beveling. The glass itself is antique and can make the
> mirror valuable. Usually, an antique mirror is not devalued by the
> resilvering process, because the glass is not changed. In fact,
> resilvering can add to the value of an antique mirrors. However, it is
> worth checking first as some important antiques are more valuable if
> left untouched.


How to Have a Mirror Resilvered
http://tinyurl.com/9sddc

Step #4. says:

> Check with local antique dealers for the names of reputable
> resilverers. Many antique mirrors are resilvered before they're sold,
> so a local dealer will more than likely be able to make a recommendation.


Hope this helps!

...Sachet

 

[Cabinetman]

Any glass shop should be able to get you the mirror you desire, be it bevelled or square-edged, curved (no, that would be a funhouse supply), curved top, scallopped top. Be prepared to pay a good amount for anything but a square (rectangular) mirror. Also, don't get anything thinner than 1/4" in thickness. I have used 1/8" in the past and it does distort the reflected image a bit. Not like a funhouse mirror, but 1/4" is very true, and the cost is quite reasonable in my opinion.

All that said, if you want to use it and keep the piece as your own, I wouldn't worry about what the guy at Antiques Roadshow says it's worth.

Re-silvering is something else, and in my experience, those that do it are hard to find. Of course, this is always an option, but I don't know how the price compares. If your glass is in good shape, and especially if it is "special" (like bevelled or scallopped top or some such nuance), resilvering may be your best bet, cost-wise.

 

[OcNikki]

Thank you for the great advice. I never would have thought about re-silvering! I looked it up and there is someone right near me and the price is right so I think that is what I'll do.

Thank you again!

Nikki