Where should I hang a wooden framed mirror?

Position your mirror opposite a window to bounce natural daylight deep into darker corners of the room. Large overmantel pieces suit traditional fireplace walls, while smaller oval or rectangular frames fit narrower hallway spaces. Ensure the wall fixings match the weight of the timber and glass combination. Heavy oak and giltwood frames require secure wall plugs and screws fitted directly into studs or masonry.

How do I clean an antique mirror glass?

Wipe the glass gently with a soft microfibre cloth dampened slightly with distilled water. Avoid spraying liquid directly onto the glass edge where moisture can seep behind the silvering. Keep chemical cleaning agents away from the wooden frame and gilt surfaces. Commercial window sprays will damage aged shellac polishes and strip delicate gold leaf.

How do I tell an old mirror from a reproduction?

Examine the rear of the frame for hand-cut boards, rose-headed nails, and shrinkage cracks appropriate to the timber age. Older mirror plates often show faint foxing, tiny dark spots, and slight distortion within the glass. Modern reproductions typically feature uniform machine-sawn backing timbers and flawless, perfectly flat glass plates. Check the joinery for modern staples or PVA glue residue which point to twentieth-century manufacturing.