Antique Mirrors

Antique mirrors are those dating from a previous era that are considered collectable or valuable. There is no specific time period that defines what is antique, but generally the cutoff is 100 years old. These mirrors can also be referred to as vintage mirrors or collectable mirrors… but those terms are not quite the same as antique mirrors. Vintage mirrors are newer than antiques and date to the 20th century, while collectables are valued by collectors – and these type of mirrors don’t necessarily have to be old.

Over the last few centuries, mirrors have become one of the most important parts of a home. They are essential furnishings and often create focal points. And people get plenty of use out of mirrors – a British study in 2015 showed men checking their appearance in a mirror an average of 23 times a day and women 16 times. Perhaps some of us will be surprised that men look in mirrors more often than women, but we at Jaipur Tuff realize that men often have to look themselves in the mirror and say “what have I done” when they get in trouble with their spouse!

What else makes an antique mirror?

• Modern sheet glass is free of bubbling and is smooth. Manufacturing techniques in present day are able to pull this off in a way previous techniques could not.
• The reflective coating used on the back of the glass is what turns a piece of glass into a mirror. The materials used here have changed over the years. In the 16th century, mercury was spread over a layer of tin with glass placed atop it. As time went on, old mercury mirrors aged to create a sparkly effect.
• The mirror coating on the back of an antique mirror tends to oxidize or tarnish over time, whether made with tin and mercury or a thin sheet of silver. Dark or blotchy spots become visible through the glass, defining it as an antique.
• The frame can also indicate the status of an antique mirror. Are there signs of wear? Is a carved frame chipped? Is the back of the imrror attached with something other than modern Phillips-head screws? What does the maker’s tag or mark on the back, if any, say?