Replacing mirrors or glass on antiques

We used to get a lot of inquiries when I had an antique shop 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 valuable antiques 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 of a 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 expensive. The third option is to totally strip all of 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 of the “holders and supports” for the old glass will accommodate the thickness of two mirrors. You will just 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 Vandyke’s Restoration Company or other similar companies. Make sure you match the style of glass. Some old glass have swirls in it, whereas some have 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 or stained glass. Curved glass is often found in curios or china cabinets. 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 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 tell tale signs. Also, if the mirror is flat and plain without 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 more than 100 years old, you would probably be showing your “flaws” and imperfections as well! Happy collecting!

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