I have said it before… I have to stop browsing marketplace. It almost always leads to me saving things and showing my husband another something that we should go pick up. Which, I am okay with. I honestly save a lot more things than I decide to message about. So, it is more like window shopping – and inspiration shopping. Unless I find something like an antique French mirror.
Then- it is buying kind of shopping.
Antique French Mirror
I always get a ton of questions about how I found our stack of antique mirrors. Honestly, some of it was persistence & some of it was just plain luck. I happened to be the right person to find the right listing at the right time. Or to keep responding to the messages and actually follow back with the seller and pursue the purchase. Today – sharing a couple tips I have learned while shopping for those mirrors- and some of them might surprise you.
Antique Shopping Tips- Shop Often
I mean, wouldn’t it be great if we could just shop as much as we would like until we found THE ONE? Peruse listings, message about them and then go pick them up? Well, it isn’t usually how it works of course, but you can do a quick search each morning or evening or whenever and just see what has popped up.
Set Keyword Alerts- like Antique French Mirror
Or you can set keywords and alerts to let you know when something has been listed. This is a great way to save time mindlessly scrolling for the next treasure. The only thing I would say is that sometimes I haven’t gotten the messages quick enough- or maybe it is that there are 137 other people who have that same alert and who are online more often. Either way, it isn’t a bad thing to do and it just might lead to the perfect find.
Search different variations
Mantel aka Mantle. Dining aka Dinning. Table aka Tabel. Mirror aka Miror etc. Not all listings spell things the correct way and often the misspelled word is the way to find that treasure.
Search broad descriptions like Gilded Antique French Mirror also
Try searching ‘Old’ as a keyword instead of antique or vintage. And use broad searches such as ‘vintage table’ rather than specifics like ‘vintage painted French table’ but of course, search specifics too.
French Mirror Search
For an antique French mirror try ‘Antique’ ‘Vintage’ ‘French’ ‘Gold’ ‘Gilt’ ‘Old’ along with mirror. Depending on the size- try Pier mirror or Small mirror. You can also search ‘gilded’ or the style of mirror if you are familiar- art nouveau, Louis, Trumeau, etc.
Reproduction
Of course, sometimes you just want that mirror right now and there are lots of beautiful reproduction options out there. There is nothing wrong with bringing a thing of beauty home even if it is not antique. Toss that ‘age’ requirement out and enjoy your treasure. Linking a few I found to get the look below.
Read More
For this carved roses wreath and swag mirror-You can read more about the story of finding it HERE
For more about this Free mirror & how we bleached and restored it (and the wood boring beetles that came with it!) you can find that HERE
What is your best tip for finding beautiful antique mirrors online?
Happy Friday favorites all.
In my location you just have to CHECK marketplace often in order to purchase!! Someone is always wanting what you want!! Beautiful mirrors you have.