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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: suesyl on January 30, 2013, 02:48:40 PM

Title: Hand Mirror
Post by: suesyl on January 30, 2013, 02:48:40 PM

Here is an old hand or dresser mirror. It has some condition issues. I don't know what it is made of. The beveled mirror is not cracked, but has some haziness. Anybody out there able to tell me about it?

Title: Re: Hand Mirror
Post by: suesyl on January 30, 2013, 02:53:41 PM

Another picture.

Title: Re: Hand Mirror
Post by: mart on January 30, 2013, 08:04:33 PM

Nice !!  Possibly bakelite !! You can check by using 409 household cleaner on a Q-Tip,, rub a spot and see if the Q-Tip stains a yellowish color !!  Can be a pale color to almost a nicotine brown !! Then wash it off and dry the spot !!  Don`t have the Q-Tip dripping,, just wet it and squeeze the excess out before rubbing  !!  Try the very bottom of the handle since it would be the least touched !!

Title: Re: Hand Mirror
Post by: Rauville on January 30, 2013, 08:40:42 PM

I've had mirrors and brushes similar to this, and they appear to be a molded composition material. And they always had age and stress cracks similar to this one. They probably were a later and cheaper version of earlier gutta percha items. 

Title: Re: Hand Mirror
Post by: ghopper1924 on January 31, 2013, 06:44:35 AM

Quote from: Rauville on January 30, 2013, 08:40:42 PM

I've had mirrors and brushes similar to this, and they appear to be a molded composition material. And they always had age and stress cracks similar to this one. They probably were a later and cheaper version of earlier gutta percha items. 

Sounds reasonable. I would think a composition mirror like this would date to the 1930s or 40s.

Title: Re: Hand Mirror
Post by: mart on January 31, 2013, 09:57:56 AM

Could be but wouldn`t hurt to check !!