Some may underestimate the value of antique mirrors. Many people focus on other antiques and forget about these gems. Mirrors are functional and beautiful, and often fetch a startling price if the piece is of high enough quality. Not only that, but they look great and are nice display items.
There are a few things you can look for to determine if the piece you are considering or the piece you may already own has high value. Of course, the older the item is, the better. If you feel sharp edges or corners, it's probably been made more recently. The edges from older pieces have long since dulled from the aging process.
You can figure out how old a particular piece is by looking at how it's made and what parts were used in making it. Old screws were handmade, meaning the amount of space between each spiral will vary. Also, the slot in the head may not be centered.
Antique frames were often made with veneers as opposed to screws. An older veneer will be thicker and have irregular borders. Just like slicing bread with a serrated blade, you will see irregular widths. A veneer made more recently will be thinner, smoother, and all the same thickness.
Antique glass is fairly easier to spot. It will have a gray appearance, and also be slightly to moderately wavy. If you are unsure, try this key test: Take the tip of a key and hold it up to the mirror. The closer the tip of the reflected key is to the actual key tip the older the glass is likely to be. Replaced mirror glass greatly reduces the value of your piece.
You can measure the worth of an antique item by critiquing several areas. Most importantly is how rare the item is. A one of a kind piece will always fetch a higher price than a piece that was made several times. Finding out how rare something is is hard to do and will take a fair amount of research. The condition of the item is also very important. You may have an old piece but if it's falling apart or severely damaged, the worth will have decreased. The fancier the work, the better as well. Carvings and intricate details raise the value.
Depending on when the piece was made, the quality of the materials, and the current condition of it, antique mirrors can be very valuable as well as lovely. Look for original glass and ornate carvings in the frame. These are great showpieces in any home.
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