Antique Mirrors on the Wall,

Make your Home Fairest of All…

Antique mirrors have ageless beauty, mystique and charm. Wherever they are placed, these qualities radiate and transform the space.

Antique Mirrors add the finishing touch when it comes to decorating a home. Even an antique mirror on your dressing table completes the overall look of the bedroom. An antique mirror placed strategically on a wall in a room creates an illusion of additional space by reflecting the light, be it natural or artificial. An antique wall mirror can also be used as a piece of artwork on the wall especially if the frame has especially beautiful carving.

Antique Mirrors originally were small and hand held pieces of highly polished metal and were followed by larger and full length mirrors in the 1st century AD. In the 16th century ornate mirrors with heavy carvings and scrollwork or decorative metalwork were created. The mirrors themselves were made from a piece of glass backed with tin and mercury. This craft started in Venice and spread throughout Europe and by the end of the 17th century both mirrors and their frames started appearing in silver, ebony, tortoiseshell and ivory. Some frames were also decorated with needlework and beads. Carved frames were common in mirrors for mantels and table mirrors with replaceable frames.

Select antique mirrors depending on

• Purpose
• Budget
• Style

Once you find some antique mirrors you like to take printout or a photo of them and try them at the places you want them to be.

Remember to avoid

• Wavy and grayish looking antique wall mirrors
• Thin antique wall mirrors as they do not reflect well
• Antique wall mirrors that reduce the size of the reflection

In genuine antique mirrors make objects appear closer than they actually are.

Vantage points for antique mirrors so they reflect interesting subjects:

• Entry hall where you want to see your own reflection
• Opposite a window to reflect a view
• On a mantel to create a strong focal point
• Above a hall console or table in a corner to lighten a dark area

Selecting framed antique wall mirrors

• Framed antique wall mirrors should complement the shape of other furniture in the room, traditional or contemporary
• Ethnic, whimsical antique wall mirrors are good in non-traditional settings
• The finish on the frame of antique wall mirrors should blend with the furniture in the room, be it traditional wood, gilded, or distressed paint
• Make sure the frame of the mirror contrasts with the color of the all so it will stand out
• When an antique wall mirror is placed over furniture, it should relate to the furniture below it in value and color
• Create contrast and eclecticism with the furniture in the room

Frame material of antique wall mirrors: There are many options including finished wood (stained or painted), metal, bamboo, and stained glass.

Design of the antique wall mirrors: many styles to choose from with Louis XIV style probably being the most ornate to Louis Philippe style which is unadorned with very little carving.

The size of the frame of antique mirrors should

• Complement to the size of the furniture in the room
• Be grouped with some other paintings or scones if they are very narrow
• Be hung vertically over a chest or console if they are longer than the piece of furniture
• Be hung alone, without furniture beneath them if they are large vertical mirrors
• Be grouped with framed art, porcelain plates, or figurines if they are medium sized and placed above a dresser, chest, or table
• Be grouped if they are a collection of tiny mirrors with inventive frames

www.OldPlank.com offers an incredible collection of Antique Mirrors, Vintage Mirrors, Antiques and Collectibles imported from France and England. Antiques on Old Plank Road, 331 East Ogden Avenue, Westmont, IL 60559.

Article Author: Meshaal McLean

Antique Gilt Mirror

Want to know about french antique gilt mirrors that allows people a glimpse into the future pretty often.

Long before glass mirrors are made of metal like copper, bronze, silver, tin etc. In early 17th- and 18th-century the value of a mirror was the ultimate status symbol and subject of antique mirrors is a huge one. Most antique gilt mirrors will have some restoration work with so many designs, periods, styles and tastes. This antique glass mirror was a mark of refinement, power, wealth and self confidence.

There couldn’t have been anything of value in the house without one. These mirrors create the room’s focal point, capturing the elegance of times past is a special overtime. These beautiful antique gilt mirrors would enhance any room in your home with what ever style you are looking for.

With wall and other decorative mirrors, gilt frames were in the majority. These gilt frames are fitted together at the joints with gilt molding which were made of wood. The woods used to set in frames were ebony, olive mooed, walnut, pine ,walnut veneered on pine etc…The solid gilt mirrors are available in variety of finishes with the gilt leaf, antique gold or antique silver giving a more of a tone down finish.

Out of all…antique gilt mirrors and french antique gilt mirrors are popular. It’s quite interesting to know that french antique frames have spent far better condition than any other English counterparts. The mirror frames are mostly put together to form the crest or fronton (pediment); the artisan would then combine the decorating styles and make the mirrors to the required size.

Most mirror frames have a combination of oil gilding and a deeply moulded gilt frame decorated with gilt balls and water gilding on smooth surface are suited. The French antique gilt frames will either have a gold or silver leaf applied to the decoration. The gilder sometimes uses both methods on one frame in order to create contrast for maximum visibility and brilliance of the finished piece.

There are many restored mirrors such as Vintage Dressing Mirror, Mirror with Antique Pine Frame, Antique French Hand Carved Mirror, Reproduction Mirror with Gilded Wood Frame, Antique Mirror in Gilt Frame, Antique Carved and Gilded Oval Mirror, Large Antique French Hand-carved Walnut Henri II style Mirror with the original beveled glass, Antique mirror in ornate gilt frame , Antique French mirror with the original beveled glass , Antique faux bois mirror were the wooden frame, which has been covered with gesso to mimic the look of tree branches, is embellished with a carved pediment etc are some of the best collections.

Apart from good antique gilt mirrors there are some repro mirrors on the market that look the same as the original. But when compared with original they were cheaply sold which obviously wont hold much value, so forget it if your looking for an investment.

When buying french antique gilt mirrors, restoration reflects an overwhelming and viable, like everything else in the antique business. There are two things to know before buying: Originality and quality. Buy it from the original makers, who can supply the best quality standing mirrors to you.

www.OldPlank.com is a specialist in top quality original antique mirrors that has been acquiring French antique gilt mirrors. Old plank offers a huge choice of mirrors, in many sizes and shapes; from gilded to gilt edged, bevelled to decorative fret-work, painted or carved as well as decorative edging and friezes.