Bespoke Antiqued Mirrors
Made to measure antiqued mirrors, bespoke to your requirements, as individual as your space. Museum grade mirror antiqued to your desire, framed by specialists. Get in touch today to discuss your project.
Description
What is an Antiqued Mirror?
& how they can enhance your vision.
An antiqued mirror, often referred to as an antique mirror or distressed mirror, is a reflective glass surface intentionally aged to evoke the patina of time. This distinctive look features subtle spotting, foxing, and oxidation - imperfections that add depth and character, mimicking the natural wear of vintage mirrors from centuries past. Historically, true antique mirrors developed these traits through exposure to air, moisture, and environmental factors, with silver-backed glass tarnishing over decades. Today, modern antiqued mirrors replicate this effect using safe, controlled techniques like chemical treatments or hand-silvering, resulting in a softer, warmer reflection compared to pristine contemporary glass.
At Harten, our custom mirrors go beyond replication; we tailor the distressing level, from light clouding for a subtle vintage feel to heavy oxidation for dramatic impact, to suit your space. This bespoke approach ensures your mirror antiqued with precision not only reflects light beautifully but also integrates seamlessly with your decor, protecting and enhancing the ambiance of homes, galleries, or commercial settings.
Get your project started
Let's get your art framed
Get a bespoke design brief for your project. Each frame is uniquely designed and manufactured in house by our expert framers.
Craftsmanship
How We Bring Our Experience To Antiqued Mirror Frames
At Harten, we specialise in creating museum-quality antiqued custom mirrors, delivering elegance and personalised flair. Unlike mass-produced options, every antique mirror we craft is entirely bespoke, designed and manufactured to precisely match your vision, style, and requirements. Whether you're seeking a statement piece for a contemporary interior or a subtle accent that enhances historical charm, our expert framers pour real care into every project, ensuring your mirror antiqued to perfection becomes a cherished heirloom.
50 Years Experience
As we've been around for over 50 years, we have an enviable amount of experience in all aspects of picture framing and display solutions.
“I started using Harten Frameworks six years ago. These guys are the best framers in the UK, they focus on my needs and always deliver. ”
Lincoln TownleyArtist
Finishes
A Few Examples Of Antiqued Mirror Finishes & Materials
-
Create More Space
Mirrors are perfect for either enlarging small spaces or adding expansive depth to larger rooms.
-
Custom Mirror Sections
For a true designer aesthetic, the mirror can be divided into sections with specially finished panels added to take the design to the next level.
-
Floor Standing
A popular trend with larger mirrors is to have them floor standing, leaning against a wall. We can provide this style for you, with custom finishes and sizing.
-
Full Service
If you project requires, we can craft beautiful mirror frames then deliver and install them to your (or your client's) site.
-
Key Talking Point
Large mirrors with custom frames become room center pieces and always attract attention and comments.
-
Brushed
A lovely finish on either brass or aluminium, giving the effect of a unidirectional brushed texture. This is often paired with a black internal or polished face on tray frames.
-
Burn Back
Gives modern rustic aesthetic with deep texture and ageing effects. The process involves carefully burning the wood. Ash or obeche wood has the best grain effect for this technique.
-
Gesso
A traditional method of preparing a frame surface for paint, gilding or custom finishes. Can be applied to wood, metal and even paper mounts. The craftsmanship and secret recipes involved create a stunning finish that speaks for itself. Taken further, the gesso can be cracked and crazed, with stains and leaf applied to the cracks to accentuate, then waxed to seal. The finished result has a delicate ceramic-like touch, or feels leathery when waxed.
-
Gilding
After laying a gesso base, gilding can be applied using leaves of many metals, including gold, silver, bronze, copper & aluminium. This gives a luxury finish with a huge range of custom styles including patination, scuffing, rub through and burnishing. There are water-gilding and oil-gilding processes available depending on what is needed.
-
Hand Painted
Your profile can be expertly painted in any colour required to match your artwork or environment. This cost-effective finish can be further enhanced with techniques such as stippling, veiling, patination and distressing.
-
Sprayed
Spraying is our most popular finish, with benefits including invisible frame corner joins on metal profiles, a smooth high quality effect and a choice of colours and glosses. It gives contemporary museum quality to any artwork.
-
Patina
A chemical finish added to the metal causing a reaction which creates a tonal, graduated finish. This can be light or dark.
Get your project started
Let's get your art framed
Get a bespoke design brief for your project. Each frame is uniquely designed and manufactured in house by our expert framers.
Construction
Explore Your Ideal Type of Antiqued Mirror
We make antiqued mirrors in various types, each offering unique aesthetic qualities derived from historical styles and modern interpretations. Understanding these can help you select the ideal antique mirror for your project. At Harten, we craft each type as a fully custom piece, adapting finishes and details to your exact needs.
Smoked
Smoked antiqued mirrors feature a hazy, tinted overlay that softens reflections and adds a mysterious allure, perfect for moody interiors like lounges or bedrooms. The ideal frame for this type is a sleek walnut moulding with a matte finish, which complements the subtle smokiness without overwhelming it, allowing the glass's depth to shine.
Oxidized
Distressed or oxidized antiqued mirrors showcase bold spotting and edge-blackening, evoking the look of 19th-century relics. This type suits eclectic or industrial spaces, where the imperfections create visual interest. Pair it with a gilded gold leaf frame in a Baroque style - ornate carvings and curves enhance the dramatic aging, turning the mirror into a focal point while providing structural support for larger installations.
Hand-silvered
Hand-silvered antiqued mirrors, inspired by Victorian techniques, involve pouring liquid silver for an authentic, uneven patina. These are ideal for heritage restorations or luxury settings, offering a handmade authenticity. A perfect match is a mahogany frame with simple, elegant lines in a Georgian design, which balances the intricate silvering with restrained symmetry, ensuring longevity and eco-friendly sourcing from sustainable woods.
Clouded
Clouded antiqued mirrors present a marbled, ethereal effect with soft mottling, lending a romantic vibe to bathrooms or hallways. For these, we recommend a silver-leaf Rococo frame featuring asymmetrical floral motifs; the flowing designs echo the cloud-like patterns, adding opulence while our UV-resistant coatings protect against further environmental wear.
Wobble glass
Wobble glass antiqued mirrors incorporate wavy, imperfect glass for a playful distortion, often seen in Art Deco revivals. This type thrives in creative environments, and a chrome or polished metal frame with geometric accents amplifies the retro charm, offering durability for high-traffic areas.
Each of these antiqued custom mirrors at Harten is built from scratch, with no stock items - every element, from the distressing intensity to the frame profile, is customised to your preferences, guaranteeing a one-of-a-kind result.
Diverse Shapes of Antiqued Mirrors
The shape of your antique mirror plays a crucial role in its impact, influencing how it interacts with light and space. We offer endless customisation, shaping glass and frames to fit awkward alcoves, oversized walls, or intimate nooks.
Rectangular antiqued mirrors provide a classic, versatile form, ideal for overmantels or hallways where clean lines create balance. The best frame here is a paneled walnut design, which adds subtle bordering to frame the distressed glass without distraction, enhancing room proportions.
Oval or elliptical shapes bring softness and fluidity, suiting powder rooms or bedrooms for a gentle, inviting reflection. A Regency-style frame with slim columns and neoclassical motifs pairs flawlessly, offering elegance that highlights the curved edges while our acid-free materials preserve the antiquing.
Circular antiqued mirrors, including convex variants, offer a bold, eye-catching presence, perfect for entryways to draw in light. Opt for a borderless or minimalist metal frame to let the rounded form and patina take center stage, ensuring a contemporary twist on antique appeal.
Octagonal or geometric shapes add modern edge to antiqued mirrors, blending vintage distressing with sharp angles for transitional spaces. A distressed white wood frame in an Edwardian influence complements this, providing contrast that accentuates the facets and protects against moisture damage.
No matter the shape, our bespoke process at Harten ensures your mirror antiqued to your specifications integrates perfectly, with hand-finished edges and secure mountings for peace of mind.
Why Choose Harten for Your Bespoke Antiqued Mirror?
In a market flooded with generic options, Harten stands out by committing solely to bespoke projects. We don't hold stock; instead, our museum-grade specialists collaborate with you from initial consultation to final installation, crafting antiqued custom mirrors that reflect your story. Specialists in oversized projects and drawing on over 50 years of expertise, we use sustainable materials and advanced techniques to deliver unmatched quality - UV-shielding, shatter-resistant glass, and eco-friendly woods that protect your investment for generations.
Our clients, from interior designers to private collectors, appreciate the personalised service: detailed design briefs, precise manufacturing in our Cheshire workshop, and worldwide delivery with insurance. Whether incorporating Art Deco inspirations or subtle Victorian distressing, we identify opportunities others miss, like integrating LED backlighting for enhanced ambiance or custom plinths for freestanding pieces.
Ready to preserve and elevate your space with a custom antique mirror? Contact us today for a no-obligation quote within 24 hours. Let's frame your vision with the timeless beauty of an antiqued mirror tailored just for you.
The framing of my piece has really made a statement in our new home, for a price that was unrivalled by any local competitors.
Get your project started
Let's get your art framed
Get a bespoke design brief for your project. Each frame is uniquely designed and manufactured in house by our expert framers.