How to Buy an Antique Wall Mirror

By Home & Garden Last updated Sunday, April/14/2024

Check Out Your Space

Measure the space where you want to hang an antique mirror. Use a stud finder to ensure that there are sufficient wall studs in place to hang the mirror. You want to make sure the antique mirror can be hung securely before you buy anything. You also want to have the measurements available when you actually start shopping for the antique mirror.

The prices in antique stores and at antique shows can vary widely, even for the same mirror. Before you start shopping, you should obtain a recent price guide that outlines the value of various brands of antique mirrors on the market. That price guide can help you spot a bargain, but it can also help you avoid overpaying for a mirror when you find one you like. Keep in mind that the condition of the mirror will also play a big role in its value. A mirror that is in good, original condition may be worth quite a bit more than one that suffered damage and has been repaired with more modern materials.

When you are in the market for an antique mirror, you obviously want to shop at antique shops and shows, but it also pays to shop at unorthodox venues. If you know what to look for, you may be able to find a great deal on an antique mirror at a flea market, yard sale or thrift store. The key is to educate yourself as much as possible, using both general guides to antiques and specific guides to antique mirrors.

While there are many actual antique mirrors on the market, there are also a lot of fakes out there. These fakes are often reproductions of actual antique wall mirrors, and while they may look old, they are actually of a much more recent vintage. Understanding things like maker's marks and signatures can help you sort out those reproductions from the true antiques. If you plan to spend a great deal of money to purchase an antique wall mirror, it is worth your while to have a professional appraisal done before you make the purchase. If the history of the mirror is known, it is also a good idea to get all of the documentation that comes with that mirror, including exactly when it was made and who owned it throughout its lifetime.