All About Antiques: Replacing Mirrors or Glass

First of all I need to correct the dates for the

Peaches to Beaches! March 8-9 which is a Friday and Saturday are the correct

dates. Also, it is well worth it to call 988-8000 and pay the $30 to get on the

official map and support the event. Without great participation, the event

could be in jeopardy and we don’t want to lose it!

We used to get a lot of inquiries at Carrie Lynn’s

from folks wanting to know whether or not they should replace old glass or

mirrors in antique furniture and if so, where do they find replacements?  Of course it is best to keep original

glass and mirrors in your antique furniture unless it has some serious damage

or bothers you.

Most old mirrors lose the silver backing over the

years from the backs getting scratched during moves or just the difference in

temperature and humidity in their surroundings over the years. We would just

call that “character” and not worry about it. However, there are three options

if you don’t like the way the old mirror looks.

The easiest and cheapest would just be to replace the

mirror. A beveled glass mirror should be replaced with another beveled glass

mirror instead of a plain flat mirror, otherwise the new mirror will really

stand out as being a replacement and just not have the elegant look beveled

mirror. Some purists like to take the old mirror and have it re-silvered. Re-silvering

has to be done by a professional and can be quite expensive.

The third option is to totally strip all the silver

off the old mirror (reducing it to “old glass”) and putting a new mirror behind

it back to back. This will only work if the “holders and supports” for the old

glass will accommodate the thickness of two mirrors. You will have to search

online to find a source for re-silvering or the method of stripping the silver.

As far as replacing old glass, you should replace it

with vintage glass if you can find it or you can find replacement glass from

VanDykes Restoration Company. Make sure you match the style of glass you

have.  Some old glass has swirls in

it whereas some has bubbles, called “seeds.” Sometimes your glass may be a

combination of the two.

Probably some of the most expensive glass you will

have to replace is curved glass that is usually seen in antique china cabinets

with curved glass sides. Also individual panes of convex or concave glass can

be quite costly as well. Most local glass companies can replace these pieces

for you but will have to have an exact measure of the curve of the glass.

You can order these styles out of a replacement

catalog, but they can be costly to ship because of their fragile nature. It is

also best to have a professional install them because they can be easily broken

when trying to tighten the munions or blocks that hold them in place.

How can you tell if glass or mirrors have been

replaced? Look at the apparatus that holds them in place.  Fresh glue or newer looking wood strips

or blocks are telltale signs. Also if the mirror is flat and plain without a

bevel and has no flaws, chances are it was replaced. Most antique mirrors will

have some kind of flaws in them. Hey, if you were over a hundred years old, you

would probably be showing your “flaws” and imperfections as well!

Happy collecting!

Jillinda Falen is an estate liquidation specialist and

the owner of Carrie Lynn’s Antiques in Perry. She has been collecting antiques

for 22 years. You may contact her via the Houston Home Journal or at

www.antiquesingeorgia.com.

HHJ News