2/7/2025, 21:49:31
uk-map

Find Dealers, Antiques Fairs & More near You

Go to directory

Vintage & Antique Mirrors

(1,785 items)

Mirrors have a long and noble history with the oldest surviving being over 8000 years old and made of polished Obsidian (volcanic glass). For thousands of years the necessary reflective quality was created using polished metals or stones, but in the 16th Century a new finish was invented using a mercury and tin amalgam. At the time Venice was the centre for such Mirror production with this new technique was initially kept a closely guarded secret. Extremely hard to make in large sheets, most early mirror frames instead incorporated smaller plates joined together. Large mirrors only became possible in the late 18th Century and were prohibitively expensive for all but the elite.


Today a mirror is just as important in any room as in the past bringing light and elegance. Of course, there are many different forms from wall mirrors or Overmantle mirrors to dressing mirrors and handheld. However whichever you decide on, there is nothing that beats the character of antique and vintage examples. At LoveAntiques you will find amazing old mirrors of all sorts for all your needs.

... See more
Email me the latest items
i
Newest
Filter by
Opaque Green Art Deco Mirror

£ 280

€327
$352
Opaque Green Art Deco Mirror

Opaque Green Art Deco Mirror

£ 280

€327
$352

Dave Fry

Large Overmantel or Wall Mirror, Black Lacquer Frame

£ 1,750

€2,044
$2,201
Large Overmantel or Wall Mirror, Black Lacquer Frame

Large Overmantel or Wall Mirror, Black Lacquer Frame

£ 1,750

€2044
$2201

Elmgarden Antiques

19thc Small Mahogany Cheval Mirror

Salisbury Antiques Centre

19thc Small Mahogany Cheval Mirror

£ 750

€876
$943
19thc Small Mahogany Cheval Mirror

19thc Small Mahogany Cheval Mirror

£ 750

€876
$943

Salisbury Antiques Centre

A Superb Pair Of Large Rococo Style Wall Mirrors

£ 4,950

€5,782
$6,226
A Superb Pair Of Large Rococo Style Wall Mirrors

A Superb Pair Of Large Rococo Style Wall Mirrors

£ 4,950

€5782
$6226

Antique & Modern Living

Decorative Giltwood Mirror

Salisbury Antiques Centre

Decorative Giltwood Mirror

£ 425

€496
$535
Decorative Giltwood Mirror

Decorative Giltwood Mirror

£ 425

€496
$535

Salisbury Antiques Centre

18th Century Walnut Toilet Mirror

£ 1,200

€1,402
$1,509
18th Century Walnut Toilet Mirror

18th Century Walnut Toilet Mirror

£ 1,200

€1402
$1509

Holmes Antiques

Vintage Brass Oval Vanity Mirror with Green Backing

£ 360

€421
$453
Vintage Brass Oval Vanity Mirror with Green Backing

Vintage Brass Oval Vanity Mirror with Green Backing

£ 360

€421
$453

D and A Binder LTD

Decorative Console Mirror with Shelf Under

£ 450

€526
$566
Decorative Console Mirror with Shelf Under

Decorative Console Mirror with Shelf Under

£ 450

€526
$566

Elmgarden Antiques

Gilded Adam Style Oval Wall Mirror

£ 1,450

€1,694
$1,824
Gilded Adam Style Oval Wall Mirror

Gilded Adam Style Oval Wall Mirror

£ 1,450

€1694
$1824

Georgian Antiques

A Large Painted and Gilt Sponged Painted Mirror

£ 750

€876
$943
A Large Painted and Gilt Sponged Painted Mirror

A Large Painted and Gilt Sponged Painted Mirror

£ 750

€876
$943

Elmgarden Antiques

George II Style Burr Elm Dressing Mirror

£ 375

€438
$472
George II Style Burr Elm Dressing Mirror

George II Style Burr Elm Dressing Mirror

£ 375

€438
$472

Georgian Antiques

Antique Large Quality Gilt Wall Mirror Trumeau C1920

£ 976.50

€1,141
$1,228
Antique Large Quality Gilt Wall Mirror Trumeau C1920

Antique Large Quality Gilt Wall Mirror Trumeau C1920

£ 976.50

€1141
$1228

Prior & Willis Antiques

Large Ornate Antique Mirror

£ 495

€578
$623
Large Ornate Antique Mirror

Large Ornate Antique Mirror

£ 495

€578
$623

FB Antiques

Queen Anne Style Mahogany Cheval Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371
Queen Anne Style Mahogany Cheval Mirror

Queen Anne Style Mahogany Cheval Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371

FB Antiques

Beautiful Large Gilt Wall Mirror

£ 320

€374
$403
Beautiful Large Gilt Wall Mirror

Beautiful Large Gilt Wall Mirror

£ 320

€374
$403

Elmgarden Antiques

A Good Length Queen Anne Style Wall Mirror

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

A Good Length Queen Anne Style Wall Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371
A Good Length Queen Anne Style Wall Mirror

A Good Length Queen Anne Style Wall Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

A Mahogany 19th Century Small Fret Mirror

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

A Mahogany 19th Century Small Fret Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371
A Mahogany 19th Century Small Fret Mirror

A Mahogany 19th Century Small Fret Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

A 19th Century Mahogany Small/Medium Sized Fret Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371
A 19th Century Mahogany Small/Medium Sized Fret Mirror

A 19th Century Mahogany Small/Medium Sized Fret Mirror

£ 295

€345
$371

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

An Attractive Good Sized Gilt Over Mantle or Wall Mirror
Reserved
An Attractive Good Sized Gilt Over Mantle or Wall Mirror

An Attractive Good Sized Gilt Over Mantle or Wall Mirror

Reserved

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

Victorian Gilt Carved Overmantle Mirror

Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables

Victorian Gilt Carved Overmantle Mirror

£ 850

€993
$1,069
Victorian Gilt Carved Overmantle Mirror

Victorian Gilt Carved Overmantle Mirror

£ 850

€993
$1069

Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables

Antique 1780s Mirror

Robert Pagden Antiques

Antique 1780s Mirror

£ 175

€204
$220
Antique 1780s Mirror

Antique 1780s Mirror

£ 175

€204
$220

Robert Pagden Antiques

Decorative Gilt Mirror

Salisbury Antiques Centre

Decorative Gilt Mirror

£ 480

€561
$604
Decorative Gilt Mirror

Decorative Gilt Mirror

£ 480

€561
$604

Salisbury Antiques Centre

19th Century Carved Mahogany Toilet Mirror

£ 475

€555
$597
19th Century Carved Mahogany Toilet Mirror

19th Century Carved Mahogany Toilet Mirror

£ 475

€555
$597

Debenham Antiques Ltd

Elegant Bamboo Wall Mirror

Elmgarden Antiques

Elegant Bamboo Wall Mirror

£ 425

€496
$535
Elegant Bamboo Wall Mirror

Elegant Bamboo Wall Mirror

£ 425

€496
$535

Elmgarden Antiques

French 19th Century Louis Philippe Shabby Gilt Mirror

£ 1,550

€1,811
$1,950
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Shabby Gilt Mirror

French 19th Century Louis Philippe Shabby Gilt Mirror

£ 1,550

€1811
$1950

Elmgarden Antiques

Antique Georgian Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror

Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables

Antique Georgian Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror

£ 375

€438
$472
Antique Georgian Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror

Antique Georgian Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror

£ 375

€438
$472

Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables

Art Deco Inlaid Walnut Mirror

£ 375

€438
$472
Art Deco Inlaid Walnut Mirror

Art Deco Inlaid Walnut Mirror

£ 375

€438
$472

Marylebone Antiques

Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirror

£ 95

€111
$119
Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirror

Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirror

£ 95

€111
$119

Harmony Antiques

Near Pair of Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirrors

£ 165

€193
$208
Near Pair of Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirrors

Near Pair of Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirrors

£ 165

€193
$208

Harmony Antiques

Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirror

£ 60

€70
$75
Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirror

Antique French Faux Bamboo Mirror

£ 60

€70
$75

Harmony Antiques

Antique 19th Century Giltwood Oval Mirror

£ 395

€461
$497
Antique 19th Century Giltwood Oval Mirror

Antique 19th Century Giltwood Oval Mirror

£ 395

€461
$497

Lunar Antiques

19th Century Italian Gilt Mirror

Lee Wright Antiques Ltd

19th Century Italian Gilt Mirror

£ 3,400

€3,972
$4,277
19th Century Italian Gilt Mirror

19th Century Italian Gilt Mirror

£ 3,400

€3972
$4277

Lee Wright Antiques Ltd

Large 19th Century Italian Giltwood Mirror

£ 4,500

€5,257
$5,660
Large 19th Century Italian Giltwood Mirror

Large 19th Century Italian Giltwood Mirror

£ 4,500

€5257
$5660

Lee Wright Antiques Ltd

Vintage and Antique Mirror FAQs


How can you tell if a mirror is old?

There are several ways to tell if a mirror is or not. The first is to look at the mirror plate itself. Mercury Mirrors first began to be used from the 16th Century and used thicker glass than today. You can gauge the glass thickness by placing an object like a pen or coin against the glass and spot the depth of the gap before the reflection begins. The mirror will also ‘sparkle’ and create a softer image than modern mirrors. Silver backed mirrors emerged in 1835 and the mirror has a slightly more yellow tint overall than new examples. Older mirrors are more liable to have imperfections and losses to the silvering. Modern mirrors are backed in a tin foil which produces a very crisp image. You can often also date a mirror from the frame, but it is important to recognise that old mirrors regularly get new mirror plates and old mirrors can be put into modern frames. Many people today ‘age’ modern mirrors using paint or artificial wear, but these can usually be differentiated from genuine old examples.


What different types of mirror are there?

As a loved item in any home there are many forms and styles of mirror, although they are all for the same basic purpose. The most common types are convex mirrors (which are domed outwards and display a wider field of view than usual) and flat mirrors. Those placed above the fireplace and have a flat base are called Overmantel mirrors, while those originally intended to be hung over a side table are called Pier mirrors. Depending on the size there are several names for mirrors with their own stand. These are commonly called Cheval or Swing mirrors if they tilt and Toilet or Dressing mirrors if they were intended to be placed on top of a table or chest. Hand mirrors are held in the hand as the name suggests.


How much do Antique mirrors cost?

Like any piece of antique furniture antique and vintage mirrors can vary dramatically in price. This can be due to the size, look, rarity and overall desirability of the piece. Generally larger more grand mirrors always command more money than smaller because they are status symbols for wealth and antique examples are usually (with some exceptions) more valuable than vintage or modern mirrors. When purchasing a mirror online it is important to consider the shipping to yourself as this can be prohibitive. Most postal companies will not offer compensation for damage and personal couriers will often charge a slight premium for the extra care required. This is why it is worthwhile buying from our reputable dealers on LoveAntiques as they usually sort the delivery for you.     


How to antique a mirror?

Many people today enjoy mirrors which appear weathered and worn as occurs naturally over time with antique silvered or mercury mirrors. While nothing beats original worn mirror plates, this is not always possible so weathered effects are created instead. There are lots of videos and descriptions online for how to ‘age’ a mirror but there are basically two approaches. The first is to take a modern mirror and create gaps and flaking to the foil backing using cleaning products, paint stripper and abrasives such as wire wool. These gaps are then accentuated with dark paint. The second approach is to begin with a clear sheet of glass and build up a weathered mirror look using layers of mirror-effect spray paint and an oil or washing up liquid to create natural defects and spots. Either approach can be quite effective and create a unique look.  


Where can I buy antique mirrors?

There are more places than ever to buy antique mirrors from physical bricks and mortar shops to online portals such as LoveAntiques. Since mirrors can be quite fragile it is best to purchase from a reputable dealer which will give you the piece of mind that the item is genuine as listed, that it is in good condition and who will sort out safe delivery for you if needed. There are many styles to choose from depending on your taste and the size of the space it is going into, but for later resale classic timeless examples hold their value well and will always be desirable. Compared to the past we now appreciate a degree of wear and degradation to the mirror plate and frames, but it is important to remember that there is a difference between worn and worn out.