How do I clean antique mirror glass?

Clean antique mirror glass gently using a soft microfibre cloth and a mild, ammonia-free glass cleaner sprayed onto the cloth rather than directly onto the glass. This prevents moisture from seeping behind the silvering or into the timber rebate. Avoid abrasive materials and harsh chemical solvents that can damage degraded silvering or strip aged patination from the surrounding frame.

What is mercury glass?

Mercury glass refers to historic double-walled or silvered glass mirrors produced using actual mercury amalgam techniques common before mid-nineteenth-century chemical silvering processes were invented. This historic manufacturing method creates a characteristic mottled, dark reflection. Such plates show unique clouding and age spots that serve as reliable indicators of great age and authenticity.

How do I date a wood mirror?

Dating a wood frame involves examining the secondary timbers at the back, the hand-tool marks on the carved elements, and the construction of the joints. Georgian pieces often display different backing board arrangements and joinery compared to Victorian or Edwardian examples. The bevel of the glass plate and the composition of the gesso layer also provide clues to the manufacturing decade.