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.
Let's Get Started
Ready to Start Your Project?
Tell us about your artwork and we will provide a free, no-obligation quote. Most projects are completed within 2-4 weeks.
5 Year Guarantee · Museum Grade Quality · Free Consultation
Craftsmanship
How We Bring Our Experience To Antiqued Mirror Frames
Every antiqued mirror we produce is made from scratch in our Bollington workshop — we hold no stock. The glass is chemically treated or hand-silvered to achieve the specific level of aging you require, then framed in a bespoke profile built to your exact dimensions. We work with interior designers, private clients, and hospitality projects to produce mirrors from small accent pieces to full wall installations.
Over 50 Years of Experience
Five decades of picture framing and display work, across every technique from conservation mounting to welded steel fabrication.
“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
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Create More Space
Mirrors are perfect for either enlarging small spaces or adding expansive depth to larger rooms.
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Custom Mirror Sections
For a true designer aesthetic, the mirror can be divided into sections with specially finished panels, adding depth and visual structure to larger mirrors.
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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.
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Full Service
If you project requires, we can craft beautiful mirror frames then deliver and install them to your (or your client's) site.
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Key Talking Point
Large mirrors with custom frames become room center pieces and always attract attention and comments.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Gilding
After laying a gesso base, gilding can be applied using leafs of many metals, including gold, silver, bronze, copper & aluminium. This gives you a luxury finish with a huge range of custom styles including patination, scuffing, rub through and burnishing.
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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.
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Sprayed
Spraying is our most popular finish, with benefits including invisible frame corner joins, a smooth high quality effect and a choice of colours and glosses. It gives contemporary museum quality to any artwork.
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Patina
A chemical finish added to the metal to cause a reaction which creates a dark, rough finish. Increasingly popular for contemporary and industrial-style frames.
Speak to a Specialist
Discuss Your Project With Our Team
Our museum grade specialists will help you choose the right materials, finishes and construction for your artwork. Over 50 years of combined experience.
5 Year Guarantee · Museum Grade Quality · Free Consultation
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 have a dark, tinted overlay that softens the reflection and gives the glass depth. The effect works well in lounges, bedrooms, and other spaces where a subdued, warm tone is wanted. Frame options range from simple dark wood profiles to sprayed finishes that blend with the tinted glass.
Oxidized
Oxidized antiqued mirrors show bold spotting and dark edges, replicating the appearance of 19th-century glass. The heavier distressing suits spaces that benefit from visual texture — hallways, feature walls, and rooms with period character. These mirrors can be framed in gilded, painted, or raw timber profiles depending on the setting.
Hand-silvered
Hand-silvered mirrors are produced by pouring liquid silver onto the glass, creating an authentic, uneven patina that no chemical process can fully replicate. This technique produces mirrors suited to heritage restorations and high-end residential projects where handmade authenticity matters.
Clouded
Clouded antiqued mirrors have a soft, marbled mottling across the surface that creates a gentler, more diffused reflection. They work well in bathrooms, hallways, and dressing rooms where a decorative mirror is wanted rather than a purely functional one.
Wobble glass
Wobble glass mirrors use slightly wavy, imperfect glass that distorts the reflection. The effect references pre-industrial glass-making and works particularly well in Art Deco and period-inspired interiors.
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?
Every antiqued mirror is a one-off. We do not hold stock — each piece is made to your dimensions, with the distressing intensity, glass type, and frame profile specified by you. We are particularly experienced with oversized mirrors and unusual shapes, including arched, circular, and multi-panel installations. Over 50 years of framing experience informs every project.
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.
Contact us for a no-obligation quote. We typically respond within 24 hours with pricing and a design recommendation based on your requirements.
The framing of my piece has really made a statement in our new home, for a price that was unrivalled by any local competitors.
Questions?
Have a Question About Your Project?
We are happy to discuss your requirements with no obligation. Send us a message or give us a call.
5 Year Guarantee · Museum Grade Quality · Free Consultation