Can you replace the mirror glass easily?

Replacing the plate is straightforward for any local glazier. They just unscrew the wooden backing board and swap the glass. Keep the old backing board if you can. It forms part of the history and helps hold the frame square.

I have inherited this rather large mahogany dressing table from my grandmother and the drawers are sticking badly when I try to open them, what causes this issue?

Swelling timber usually causes drawer friction. Changes in household humidity make the secondary wood expand inside the carcase during winter months. Rubbing a simple wax candle along the runners often solves minor sticking. If that fails, a cabinetmaker can lightly plane the bottom edges to restore a smooth glide.

How heavy are Victorian dressing tables?

They weigh a considerable amount. Thick plate glass and secondary carcase wood make them awkward to lift. You usually need two people to move one safely.

There is a brass handle missing from the left side of my table and I was wondering if it is possible to find a matching spare somewhere to fix it?

Finding an exact match is difficult but not impossible. Dealers save old handles in boxes for this reason, so it pays to ask around at fairs. Taking one of the remaining handles off gives you a pattern to carry. You need to match both the face plate design and the distance between the threaded posts. If you draw a blank, buying a complete antique set to replace the lot is an accepted practice. Just keep the old ones in a drawer.

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Antique Mahogany Dressing Tables in North West

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Antique mahogany dressing tables are low, flat-topped desks fitted with a central mirror and an arrangement of small drawers, designed to provide a seated station for applying cosmetics and storing grooming accessories.