Dear Jean and Richard, I recently needed to move an antique wardrobe, and while disassembling it, the door literally fell out and its mirrored front shattered. It had fancy curves and bevels, and my heart sank when I heard it break. How do you go about fixing something like that, and will the piece lose its value? – Mr. Sad

Richard: Hi Mr Sad. First of all, have you told your wife yet? I’m assuming you were the one disassembling it, and I feel your pain! Old pieces can be fragile, and sometimes hinges can be worn out. But most antique pieces that are designed to be broken down for traveling—especially those made in Europe—use pins to secure the doors rather than hinges, and it sounds as if yours was one of those. But I’m sure you know that now, and your questions move beyond the accident.

Jean: Of course, we’ve NEVER had anything break. We don’t claim to be an expert on repairing antiques, but there are people who are—the trick is finding the right expert. Fortunately for you, the break is only a mirror, and though it’s a shame that happened, usually a mirror can be replaced. As for loss of value, it depends on just how old the antique is. If the mirror is from a modern era—say, from the mid twentieth century—the replacement mirror will not be that different from what was there. If the piece is older, it will most certainly lose some of its value. But regardless, you’re obviously in trouble at home!

Richard: At least we are fortunate to have good furniture craftsmen in North Carolina thanks to our furniture industry, and though much of the case goods are now made in China, experienced tradesmen are still here. There are glass shops within a hundred mile radius that can create just about anything you need, from dramatic shapes to wide beveling to chemical etching. The art of aging mirrors to look antique has greatly improved, and is available, but possibly not locally.

Jean: I would take the entire door to a reputable glass company, and if they cannot replace the mirror, chances are they are in partnership with someone who can. In your case, they will probably remove the broken glass and make a cardboard template, and send with it either a broken piece of the mirror that demonstrates the bevel, or photos and specs that describe it. There was a day when these glass shops were plenty busy with orders from the furniture industry, but I’ll bet they’ll be happy for the business now.

Richard: The aging of the silver backing is sometimes not too complicated with a little sandpaper and ammonia. Just look at the edge of a fairly new bathroom mirror that has been exposed to cleaning chemicals.

Jean: And speaking of antiques, a bit of advice for anyone who is faced with transporting them—make sure you have lots of help, lots of blankets, and lots of patience. Over time, adhesives can dry out, and as a result, marble tops come off, wood joints come loose, veneers splinter and appliqués break. Wrap them, support them, and pack with care. It’s a lot easier than trying to fix them later. If all of that fails, I would find a wonderful fabric, gather it top and bottom, and put it in the empty panel. And good luck telling your wife!