How do I clean the mirror plate?

Use a soft cloth barely dampened with plain water. Modern glass cleaners often contain chemicals that seep behind the edges of the frame and degrade the historic silvering. Dry the glass immediately with a second clean cloth. Be gentle around the margins where dust tends to settle.

The drawers on my bedroom table stick badly when the weather gets humid but seem fine in the winter, is there a way to fix this without sanding them?

Humidity causes solid timber sides and runners to swell in the warmer months. This is a normal seasonal cycle for an antique dressing table. You should avoid aggressive sanding that permanently removes historic timber. Rub a block of dry paraffin wax or a plain candle along the bottom edges of the drawer sides and the internal runners. The wax acts as a dry lubricant. It often provides enough slip to get them moving smoothly again without altering the piece.

Can I replace a missing brass handle?

Finding an exact match is tough. Castings varied hugely between founders. Move a matching handle from a lower drawer to the top row. Fit a sympathetic replacement out of sight.

I have noticed that the back panels of this piece are made from really rough wood with visible saw marks, does this mean it was left unfinished by the maker?

Cabinet makers rarely wasted time or expensive timber on parts that sat against a wall. The back boards were structural rather than decorative. You often see rough pine or deal boards used here. They retain the original pit saw marks. This economical use of materials was standard workshop practice across the trade.

Home > Furniture > Dressing Tables > Page 12

Antique Dressing Tables

← Page 12 of 13 →

Designed for the bedroom or dressing room, an antique dressing table is a specialised low desk fitted with drawers for cosmetics and often integrated mirrors used during morning grooming.