Old Mirror

Hello all,

This is my first post here under antique furniture. I just do'n know much about anything when it comes to it.

I have an old mirror which I found about 52 years ago as a kid, someone had thrown it out. The mirror was old at the time but I just don't know how old, someone once told me it was called a Queen Ann Mirror and that really didn't tell me much. I know that this mirror was refinished by my mother at one point, maybe 50 years back. I know that effect things as well. The white nails on the back were added when at that time.

What I am trying to figure out is if this is something worth taking the time to sell or if it's something that I should just give to someone or place it by the curb. There are no markings on the mirror backing other than at the very top where you can see a partial label that remains. That's about all I have.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

---Mark

Additional note... the place where this was found was in Morristown, NJ. Home of Washington's Military Headquarters 1779 1780.

 

I’m no expert but it looks like a Georgian mahogany mirror but wait for others. Not sure if yours has a replacement mirror as it looks very clean.
https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/georgian_mahogany_fretwork_mirror_with_curved_top/as526a1895

 

Hello and thank you!

I know my parents never replaced the mirror in all of the time we have had this but I do not know if it has never been replaced at some point before I picked it up as a kid.

It does look similar to the mirror you have posted. very similar. I will wait to hear what others have to say. Hopefully someone know for certain what this is.

Thank you again,

---Mark

 

I’ll tag a couple of furniture people, they may not be around yet as different time zones.
@verybrad
@Ghopper1924

 

Thank you again! I did go back to the mirror and from what I can tell is that the glass from the back is black and when I look at the front I did see this. some of what you see is from the paper towel residue but the spot if not from that. I don't know what to make of it, maybe its just a blemish where something may have come in contact with the glass, I just don't know.

 

There's probably a break in the protective covering on the back, moisture got in and the silver started oxidizing.

 

Kinda like me as I am gettin older I guess.

 

Styling is Chippendale and an original would be 18th century. These were made for a lot of years and it can be difficult to tell old from newer. My gut reaction is that yours is 20th century. A few questions might help sort it out further. Is it solid or veneered? If veneered, is it on a solid wood substrate or plywood? Any evidence of the mirror being mounted differetly at some point or are the nails original? Have you removed the backing? Oftentimes, 20th century mirrors are dated on the back.

The scroll saw cut pattern of your mirror is pretty simplified. I would expect a more intricate pattern on an old one. The grain pattern at the top of your mirror seems to be from a single board (or piece of veneer). I would expect an old one to have book-matched graining.

 

I had a similar one that was made in the 1950s. It has been a very popular style for a lot of years

 

Thank you for the response, I will look to see if the mirror is dated. The nails were added by my mother who refinished it years back, I also believe that the backing was once wood pieces and I know that wen I found it it did have a veneer front that was peeling off. I believe the veneer was removed and now it's just a solid piece of wood, not like a piece of plywood.

As for the back you can see it was not really refinished. The wood is dark and that finish you see was most likely the original finish that has darkened and aged over time.

 

Hi Marie, I can tell you that the mirror is older than the 1950's. I think some of signs of that is the hangers on each side and the old aged paper backing that's around the edge. I don't think it's that new but who knows. Hopefully it's a bit older.

 

Yep, what @Houseful & @verybrad said, Georgian in England & Chippendale in America. (last quarter 18th century)
Guesses 20th century as well on the date on OP mirror, if it was period it would have wood backing for 1 thing.

 

Hi verybrad,

You were spot on. The backing you see is actually the paper padding that was in-between the wood that was there. I took out the nails and the backing (which is almost disintegrating). Under the paper and on the mirror it had this....



My guess is that says a lot and that it's a common mirror. Not sure if there is any value to it at all because it may not be old enough.

 

Has value in its usability. Maybe $30.00, give or take, to the right person.

 

Tried for years to get a period American Chippendale-looking glass and finally gave up & bought an English one.
No, it's not American but, it's not thousands of dollars either, paid $135 plus shipping for this late 18th-century english example.
https://pookandpook.com/lot/chippendale-mahogany-looking-glass-late-18th-c-i-1599652