Antique-shop.com

Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: ANCIENTONE on October 05, 2012, 07:08:21 PM

Title: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 05, 2012, 07:08:21 PM
Any ideas as to how old this frame is? 
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: mart on October 05, 2012, 07:39:41 PM
Can we see the back and a closer shot of the front !!
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 06, 2012, 06:30:51 AM
Here's more pics...
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: Rauville on October 06, 2012, 07:20:35 AM
I would say walnut from the last quarter of the 19th century?
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 06, 2012, 08:36:44 AM
Thank you Rauville. 

Now I need to get a mirror cut. Descent find for 7$?
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: bigwull on October 06, 2012, 08:40:45 AM
Thank you Rauville. 

Now I need to get a mirror cut. Descent find for 7$?
Did you have a Trick or Treat mask on when you got it...cos...you stole it at that price....well done,
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 06, 2012, 08:54:50 AM
I am pretty scary looking but no mask...  Hey! Maybe that helps with my negotiating prices. Got a similar mirror with this one but I think it's 1930's or 40's.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ghopper1924 on October 06, 2012, 10:16:27 AM
Walnut, 1870s. A steal for $7.00.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: bigwull on October 06, 2012, 11:01:11 AM
I am pretty scary looking but no mask...  Hey! Maybe that helps with my negotiating prices. Got a similar mirror with this one but I think it's 1930's or 40's.
No mask you say...Well!....perhaps i can help you out here....what about this one...LOL!
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: cogar on October 06, 2012, 11:04:14 AM
I don't think I would date it that old given the 2-piece back(er) board.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: KC on October 06, 2012, 11:08:53 AM
I have to agree with cogar.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 06, 2012, 02:20:32 PM
No mask you say...Well!....perhaps i can help you out here....what about this one...LOL!

That one might kill the deal. I prefer the Zeus/castaway look.  Here's me and the wife, she's the one in make-up...


Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 06, 2012, 02:28:39 PM
Here's a pic of a cut nail I pulled from the back panel. About 3/8 of and inch or 10mm. Maybe it can be dated from this?  It also has holes on sides where it was mounted to a dresser.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: bigwull on October 06, 2012, 03:45:28 PM
looks like a hand pulled nail...as opposed to a machined one that would almost certainly be round all the way up the shank....
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 06, 2012, 05:51:46 PM
Do you mean drawn or wire nails? Cut nails were phasing out here around 1880, but this looks like a cross between a cut(square shank) and drawn nail.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: mart on October 06, 2012, 07:50:22 PM
Mmmm,,, cant get the pics to enlarge !!
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ghopper1924 on October 06, 2012, 08:33:38 PM
"the 2-piece back(er) board."

Although single piece backing boards are the norm for this time period, I don't see that a date ca. 1870s and a 2-piece backer board have to be mutually contradictory. The frame is clearly Renaissance Revival with no incipient Eastlake influence. 1870s.
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: cogar on October 07, 2012, 04:01:51 AM
Given the "square" brad and the fact it was for a dresser I will now agree with your date.

I use to have several pounds of "square" cut nails, from 3/4" up to 8", that I saved from my remodeling of an 1862 2-story farm house.

They came in handy when I got into refinishing old furniture and "repo'ing" old items.

A trivia "note" about "cut" or "square" nails. With their "square" flat end, they actually "cut" through the grain of the wood and thus are less likely to cause the wood to "split" like a "round" sharp pointed wire nail will. 

That is the reason that many of the "concrete" and "flooring" nails are still being made "square-cut".

If you ever tried to install a tongue-n'-groove oak floor using round nails you would have a lot of grief.   ;D ;D
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: bigwull on October 07, 2012, 04:51:09 AM
Given the "square" brad and the fact it was for a dresser I will now agree with your date.

I use to have several pounds of "square" cut nails, from 3/4" up to 8", that I saved from my remodeling of an 1862 2-story farm house.

They came in handy when I got into refinishing old furniture and "repo'ing" old items.

A trivia "note" about "cut" or "square" nails. With their "square" flat end, they actually "cut" through the grain of the wood and thus are less likely to cause the wood to "split" like a "round" sharp pointed wire nail will. 

That is the reason that many of the "concrete" and "flooring" nails are still being made "square-cut".

If you ever tried to install a tongue-n'-groove oak floor using round nails you would have a lot of grief.   ;D ;D
When using round wire nails...you can stop them from splitting the wood...if you dull the point by using a hammer..to flatten the point...then this nail will not split the wood...however...th is method whilst it will always work with soft woods...Hard woods, can be difficult....that is why, when i,used to work with hard woods, i would drill a pilot hole first.....
Title: Re: Age of Mirror Frame?
Post by: ANCIENTONE on October 07, 2012, 07:34:16 AM
Thanks for all the help! I'm hooked on the search for antique's so I'll be around for a while!

Regards,
Charlie