8 Different Types of Antique Mirrors

Have you thought about wanting to find an antique mirror to keep in your home? Do you have a local thrift shop that you can score antique items? Growing up, some of us may have had the privilege of seeing a couple of these mirrors up close. As a child, my grandmother owned an antique handheld mirror and a vanity mirror tray.

It is great to see some of the antique designs that we may not have been able to view as children. If you’re wanting to bring a bit of history into your home, there are various styles of antique mirrors you may still be able to find today.

Need to dispose a mirror? Check out How To Dispose Of A Large Mirror.

In the beginning, antique mirrors were called the ‘looking glass.’ Antique mirrors were first made in the early 16th century. They didn’t come over to England until the 17th century. Mirrors were first made by using the cylinder process, where there were blown, split open, and then laid flat by Sir Robert Mansell.

This process had its limitations so only single plates could be made at the time to make a single mirror. By the 18th century, larger mirrors were beginning to be made with better quality plates. This would then lead the way for more decorative mirrors to come about and make their way to Victorian homes.

Did you know that years ago, they recycled antique mirrors? Recycling wasn’t a process that we only used today. Forms of recycling started in the 18th century. Since the English factories could not make large mirror plates, and there was heavy tax from abroad, it affected the development of mirrors being made in Britain. As a way to avoid tax, and bring in mirrors from France, they started to recycle old mirrors. Recycling old mirrors went on until the late 18th century until larger mirrors started to become developed with lighter frames.

At the start of the 19th century, the popularity of small antique mirrors came into place, such as the convex mirror. Convex mirrors were made for dining rooms, so butlers at the time could have a view of the dining room table to see when they would be needed at the dinner table.

The different types of antique mirrors to consider when browsing your local thrift store are handheld, floor-to-floor, toilet mirrors, vanity tray mirrors, Baroque, Georgian, Regency, and Rococo mirrors.

Towards the late 1800s, handheld mirrors became the item that everyone needed to have in every Victorian-styled home. A handheld mirror could be made out of hand-held cut glass set in silverplate, silver, or brass. In other countries, handheld mirrors that had porcelain backs became popular.

The Ancient Egyptians made mirrors out of metals like silver, bronze, and copper. Mirror-makers in the early times had the flattened sheet of speculum until they could see their reflection. Since handheld mirrors were so difficult to make, only the elite has possessed hand mirrors at the time.

The first glass mirror was introduced in Sidon, in Lebanon. The round mirrors were three inches in diameter and did not have a clear reflection. Hand mirrors started to become popular in Europe, as well as the Roman Empire.

If you already have an antique mirror in your home, or see one in a thrift store, you may be wondering just how old that mirror could be. Some antique mirrors are in perfect condition, while some may have normal wear or be more damaged. If you’ve had one in your home, you may have never thought about just how old it could be.

Believe it or not, there is a process to determining the correct age of antique mirrors. This requires the mirror to be physically inspected and researched, Get expert advice to determine the age and how much the mirror may be worth. In the majority of situations, there are similarities between the age and the value of a mirror. Mirrors that may have been constructed in the 20th century will not have the same price as a mirror that was handmade in the 1800s.

Determining when your mirror was made will be the first step at determining its value. Before you find answers, you’ll want to gather up as much information as you can.

The second thing you’ll want to do is inspect the back of the mirror. Most antique mirrors have a wood back, rather than paper. You’ll want to have the back examined to see if there are any nails or screws that identify in the period it was crafted.

Next, look at the fasteners in the mirror. Modern antique mirrors won’t have fasteners that look irregular. Finally, you’ll want to look on the back to see if the mirror has any tags to see if it has the location of where it was made.

We’ve all been there. We go to a thrift store and find a beautiful piece of antique furniture that we must purchase. How do we tell if the piece is real or fake? There are many people out there who will go out of their way to try and replicate an antique mirror for profit. This is done by replacing the mirror, frame, and even the hardware. If you find yourself in a complicated situation of determining if your antique mirror is real or fake, here are some tips to help you along the way.

Check out any legit antique sites that have similar mirrors that you are trying to inspect. If you type in a specific name in your browser, you can get thousands, sometimes millions of search results. Look at any photos to determine the age and style of the mirror.

Once you have a good idea of the age and style of your antique mirror, use any descriptive keyword that might narrow down your search results. You can type in any of the styles we listed above such as toilet mirror, floor-to-floor, regency, etc.

In addition to determining your mirror’s value, antique sites will often use a description to describe mirrors. This description might include the mirror’s history and how old the mirror is. Search multiple antique sites along with auction sites for the best search results.

If you’ve made it this far, and you’ve determined your antique mirror could be of value, you’ll want to hire an appraiser. Having an antique appraiser will give your research credibility and value. A written appraisal will include descriptions, opinion of value, and for insurance purposes, replacement value.

If you hire an appraiser, they charge a flat or hourly fee. The downside to this is that an appraiser could cost you several hundred dollars depending on the amount of information that you need.

The value of an antique mirror will vary on condition, but antique mirrors can be found without burning a hole in your pocket. Where to find an antique mirror depends on your budget and the particular style that you’re looking for. You can find antique mirrors at thrift stores, flea markets, and even estate sales to find affordable mirrors.

Auctions are even a better way to find antique mirrors, although you might have to flexible with budget as some can get pricey depending on their age and value.

Antique stores and thrift stores offer the best selection of items that range from budget-friendly to high-cost items worth owning. You can buy antique mirrors on the internet. Although this option may be risky as you are not able to see the exact condition of the mirror, or if it’s in a legit sale. Always use caution when purchasing on the internet.

Antique micros come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors and can become a great unique addition to any household. Antique mirrors can complement any design scheme in your home, along with serving as a statement piece. Not only does it add style to a room, but it can also carry the history of craftsmanship and architectural style that was designed throughout the ages. Even with the imperfections that antique mirrors carry, there is a gorgeous antique item that can be incredible to own and pass down in your family.