Dresser

[suesyl]

We have this dresser, it has a mirror that needs resilvered. It has bad spots and it is cloudy in places. Is it possible to have it repaired or do you just put in a new mirror? Any ideas on age and value? We haven't gone over it with polish or anything yet. It has gotten a few dings and scratches over the years. I know not to refinish the wood. Any ideas on the cost of the mirror repairs?

[Rauville]

Mirror re-silvering costs have gone up like everything else. Today, you can probably expect to pay up to $15 per sq. foot to have a mirror redone.
A cheap method is to carefully strip and clean the old one of the silvering down to the glass, and have a thin mirror cut to place behind the original beveled one. 

[mart]

Rauville is right !! 1/8 inch mirror should not cost much !! Plain old paint stripper will remove all the old silver !! Put the cleaned beveled glass in first and the new mirror behind it !!  You can buy the plastic clips at any hardware store !! They are the same type used in most newer full length mirrors that go on your closet doors !!   Its easy to do and you can`t tell it when looking in the mirror !!

[ghopper1924]

On another note,  we have an etagere from the 1850s that has a mirror with some age fogging. Be aware that some antiquers treasure that - to an extent -as a sign of genuine age and would not consider changing it.

[frogpatch]

Two good schools of thought. I always insisted on perfect mirrors where my wife likes the fogging on some. Recently I have come over to her side. Now if we could ever agree on wear verses damage on pottery.

[mart]

Some fogging is acceptable and is normal !!  But if I want one to use personally,, I want a good clear mirror !!
Good luck Frogpatch !!

[ghopper1924]

Some fogging is acceptable and is normal !!  But if I want one to use personally,, I want a good clear mirror !!
Good luck Frogpatch !!

I don't think they're mutually exclusive. A mirror with age defects is usually more than adequate for personal use.

[mart]

LOL !!  Not with my near vision it isn`t !!

[suesyl]

Thanks for the info. We will talk about it, but I'm inclined to leave it as is for now. I would hate to mess anything up trying to fix it. So Ghopper, you think it is from the 1850's? Wow, even older than I thought. How much should I insure it for?

[ghopper1924]

No, our etagere is from that time period.

I think your dresser is from 1910-20 or so. You could probably sell it for $150 give or take. I reiterate that I would leave the mirror as-is,  but of course that's your decision.

[mart]

Thats about right !!