Mirrors

Tom M

Tom M

Well-known member
Gene Landon is teaching a mirror class at Olde Mill this year.  At the first session there was a lot of discussion on where to find "period" style mirrors.

One thought was to get blown glass made into a mirror.  I understand the period mirrors used tin and mercury, and this was replaced with silver coatings.

I've done some web searchs for mirrors with little luck.  Does anyone have an idea on what we could do to obtain "period" style mirrors for our Chippendale mirrors?

Thanks,

Tom Meiller
 
Tom,

I've made many Chippendale style mirrors with old window panes that I sent to be resilvered.  I've found that the "newer old" glass (with only minor ripple in the surface makes a much better mirror than the very old glass that has a lot of ripple.  I've also played around with how to get that aged reflective surface.  On one batch of silvering, I didn't have them paint the backs and I let them tarnish for about 2 weeks before painting them.  Results were not the greatest- maybe due to the paint I used.  They seemed to get darker over a period of many months.  Most went back and were redone!  Now he silvers and paints them.

If you're going to the mid-summer conference, I could bring some to show you.

Jeff
 
I have some 150 year old glass that I had silvered and let tarnish for several weeks.  Then I lightly sprayed on silver striper in a few areas to show wear.  Then painted the back.  Looks old, tarnished and worn.

Dennis Bork
Antiquity Period Designs, Ltd.
 
Guys,

Thanks for the ideas.  I guess I'm not very knowledgable about mirror making.  Can someone discuss how the mirror is silvered?  I'm assuming silver is put on in a plating-type process, but I'm wondering if is applied more like gold leaf.

I think I know where I can get some old glass,  but where do you go to get a piece of glass silvered?

Thanks again,

Tom
 
Check your yellow pages for somone who does mirror re-silvering.  If what does not work ask someone who refinishes furniture and perhaps they can point you in the right direction.  I think it is a vanishing business.

Dennis Bork
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top