Glass mirrors date back to the third century A.D. Before this, you might off had to make do with a highly polished stone or piece of metal. If you weren’t in a position to afford one of those though, I’m afraid your best bet was probably to stick your head over the nearest stream if you needed to catch a glimpse of yourself before you went out on a date!

In the early days, the making of the mirror glass itself was a difficult and involved process and the ways of making were guarded jealously. Intimidation tactics and even murder were employed to keep the manufacturing methods well and truly a secret; such was the value of mirrors. The earliest mirrors are always very small, as it was incredibly difficult to make any large expanse of glass successfully. If ever you do see a very large antique mirror though, say one from the 17^th century, you will notice that the glass area will be made up of a number of smaller pieces of mirror that are simply joined together. This is not a fault, but it was the only way to create such an impressive (and expensive) piece on a grand scale.

To give an indication to the value of mirrored glass. In mid-seventeenth century Venice a silver-framed looking glass, 46 inches by 26 inches cost £8000 while a Raphael painting cost just £3000! Imagine then what it would cost to create an average hall mirror…we don’t know how lucky we are!

The subject of antique mirrors is a huge one. So many designs, periods, styles and tastes it is impossible to attempt to cover the whole history and no one can know it all. But lets be honest, you don’t need to be an expert to know that you like something, you can afford it and you want to buy it!

There is no room in any house that couldn’t be improved by a mirror and some rooms that should never be without one. They create extra light, a feeling of more space and above all ad fabulous decoration and often a focal point.

The mirror is a wonderful tool of the trade for anyone that furnishes homes for a living. What do you do for example with a pokey little bathroom with only a small window offering not much light? Simple.. Bung a big mirror on one wall. It’ll help solve the light problem and give the impression of a much bigger room…job done and off to the next project!

When buying an antique mirror, like everything else in the antique business there are two things that dealers and collectors live and die by. Originality and quality.

When I’m buying a 19^th century mirror for example, I’d rather have one with an original but pitted, spotted and smoky glass than one with a brand new, bright and clear mirror put into it. The reason for this is not because I’m a diehard purist, because I’m not, its simply a case of economics. It’s just far easier to sell an antique mirror with its original glass, because that’s what the dealer and collectors are looking for, so please don’t be critical when you see an old mirror that’s looking it’s age!

If you are determined to replace the glass however because you cant stand the look of the old one, then go ahead, do it, but you must keep the old glass safe incase you want to sell the mirror on again.

As for the frames. It is wonderful to find an original old frame in untouched condition, but this really is quite rare. Most antique gilt mirrors will have either had some restoration work or will be in need of it. This is expected and acceptable. It is interesting to know though that French antique frames that have spent their lives on the continent are often found in far better condition than their English counterparts. The reason for this is not because the French care more for their antiques, it’s actually down to our notorious weather! The poor old English mirror frame has had to endure generations of damp conditions, which is not conducive to a long life in the world of gilt frames!

Antique mirrors:

Auctions. Buying from auction can be good news, but only if you know what you’re looking at. Prices should be much lower than retail, but don’t fall into the old trap of thinking everything in auction is going to be cheap! Start bidding against someone else who thinks like you and you might end up paying way too much!

Dealers: Specialist dealers will always have the best stock and a good choice. They will save you stacks of time by having a large selection in one place. You’ll get a guarantee of authenticity, delivery and piece of mind. You might even be able to try the mirror in situ before you buy. Of course you’re going to have to pay for all of this and it wont come cheap, but as a long-term investment, I would say this is the best route to go.

Restoration:

Buying an antique mirror in need of a full restoration job is often unviable. The cost can often outweigh the mirrors future value. Far better to buy one in reasonable condition or one that was restored some years ago at someone else’s expense!

New Reproductions.

There are some fantastic repro mirrors on the market. They really look the part and can be bought very easily and compared with the originals, quite cheaply. Obviously they wont hold much value, so forget it if you’re looking for an investment, but if you’re in a hurry, especially if you need a matching pair, a particular size or a van load of the things, they cant be beaten.

David Harper 2006