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Value of a Basset Mirror?

November 25, 2019

Value of a Basset MirrorHow much do guys think this is worth? It's a Basset Mirror company mirror. It measures 7 feet, has beveled glass at the top, and the frame is solid wood.

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Value of a Basset Mirror
 
Value of a Basset Mirror
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
November 26, 20190 found this helpful
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Neat item!

Basset French or sometimes called Venetian-Style Mirrors are all over the place in value (SOLD prices), depending on where you are located. I have seen them sell (actual sold prices for similar but not exact, pristine pieces) for as low as $35.

If you go online, you will see people ASKING from $100-$1000 for similar--pristine pieces, but there is no evidence that I can find that people are actually getting that much. All of the listings I have seen went unsold or were ended with no indication of if a sale took place.

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Yours looks like it has some condition issues and it may have been painted, which will impact (usually lower) the value.

Because there is a such a huge variation in what people ask and what people will pay and sales of pieces like this are regional, my best guidance for you is to find out what you local market will bear and have it sold through a good vintage/antique/consignment shop.

They will have the place to display it and wait for the right buyer to come along, since selling a piece this large is much harder to do than sell the smaller versions. There are a few of the smaller ones that are still fetching $100-200 as sold values.

I always suggest to try to find a shop that pays cash on the spot, or second best, one with a 50/50 contract split of final sale. Be sure to read the contract carefully as some will do 50/50 splits, but they lower the asking price every week and if it doesn't sell until week 12, when the final asking price is pennies on the dollar.

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Post back how it goes for you! Thanks for sharing this lovely piece! I hope it finds a good home soon!

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
November 28, 20190 found this helpful
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I believe the size of your mirror will lower the value unless you are in a high income/large house area as most people today do not live in the same houses long enough to want to have to deal with moving a piece this size.
Also, the majority of houses are just not capable of displaying a piece this size.

I usually always recommend to have a free online appraisal with something like this as the markets we research just do not do pieces like this justice..

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Just remember; appraisals are usually for insurance purposes and do not take into account the exact condition (unless there are very obvious problems) and do not refer to the area the item is located. Usually the value would be 40-60% lower than an appraisal value.
Now you can ask for a resale value (and include your area) and that might help. You can also ask about the nearest auction house that would be good for this type of furniture.
You will need several very good pictures - full length and close-ups as well as full back and framing for sure. Details of any flaws as well as pictures and any provenance information you may know about the mirror. Be sure to give your location. Be sure to send information to more than one site.

www.whatsellsbest.com/.../antiques.html

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6 More Questions

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

June 23, 2020

Is this a rare find? My husband and I received this piece from his dad. It's almost 4 feet in length and has beautiful fruit painted on it.

I can't seem to find anything like it, but I know it's a Bassett. Any ideas on its value?

A three part panel with mirror in center and fruit painted on the other two
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
June 23, 20200 found this helpful
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You are right I can't seem to find one either. If you can not find any markings on the back of the panel it makes it a bit more difficult to narrow down and identify the panel. If you are keeping this and need to understand the price to put it on your insurance I would seek the help of an antique dealer in your area.

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They can give you the value of the item so you can send it to your insurance company. It is a nice piece and if you have room in your home for this panel it would be a nice piece to display and keep. it is very unusual and unique and would make a good conversational piece for sure.

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
June 24, 20200 found this helpful
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Can you please show the Bassett marking? It is Bassett furniture or mirror? The furniture company separated in the 1950s or 1960s when they sold off the mirror division to a separate company.

What does the back look like?

This has me fascinated as I am not sure if this is a Franken-piece--where someone cut the front off a sideboard or breakfront or dresser and turned it into hanging or if this was a custom piece Bassett made for a person or a store or maybe to decorate an office or if it really was just something sold as is. I love a good furniture mystery!!

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Bassett (both furniture and mirrors) were pretty prolific manufactures so when I see something unusual like this I lean toward custom piece or Franken-piece.

You could, as cybergrannie suggested, call the companies and ask.

1.877.525.7070 - Furniture and Home Decor

276-629-3341 -- Mirror company

The original Bassett started around the turn of the 1900s and then they sold off the mirror division much later. The style looks late 1930s-1940s when painted furniture with floral motifs were popular in the US, but that was copying old French, Italian and Oriental styles...so it is possible it could be older.

Things that have me puzzled are:

1. The brown background looks very streaky--like it was painted or hand stained--but it is hard to tell if that is what I am seeing or just a product of the photograph. Often when I see this kind of streaky--it is a Franken piece.

2. The mirror looks very new (not turn of the century or even 1950s) so I am wondering about that...of course it could be a replacement mirror done at any time in the piece's life.

3. The stenciling looks a bit on the amateur side (to me) as it looks like the stencil was flipped so you have mirror images vs. both being identical. Usually stenciling like this or painting was done with each side being identical.

Are antique/vintage stores open where you are? You may be best served by taking it in and having someone look at it and touch it to tell you exactly what you have.

One last suggestion that may get you a faster answer is there are some Basset furniture Facebook groups. Maybe someone on those site can tell you more.

Thanks for sharing! Please post back what you learn! I am so intrigued.

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July 4, 2021

We recently became the owners of this very large 60" L x 38" W ornate mirror. It needs cleaned but I am trying to determine its style, age and possibly any thoughts as to value. The sticker on the back says Bassett Mirror Co, Inc. 6353-721 28x365. There is also a "Made in China" sticker so I think it was probably made within the last 30 - 40 years but I am unable to locate any similar mirror online.

Any thoughts/would be appreciated. I have contacted Bassett as to style, etc., but have received no reply as of yet.

A decorative Bassett mirror.
 
A close up of the carved mirror.
 
A close up of the carved mirror.
 
A close up of the carved mirror.
 
A close up of the carved mirror.
 
A close up of the carved mirror.
 
A close up of the carved mirror.
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
July 6, 20210 found this helpful
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I believe your piece is pretty new. From what I understand, Bassett was made in the US through 2007. After 2007, they began using overseas factories and those are the made in China products.

I hope they will respond and confirm that with you.

Some people call this a baroque style, some renaissance, some may even call it regency. It almost looks like someone painted it and tried to remove the paint--that I can't really tell--but it has an odd look about it that does not remind me of the true finish--but it could be my old eyes--without seeing it in person I can't be sure.

Are you asking to sell it or just learn more about it?

Thanks for sharing!

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January 1, 2020

My husband inherited this Bassett mirror that is 38x58" from his grandmother who purchased it in the 70s. It's very heavy and in great condition. We would like to know what it's worth and what era it's from. Age and Value of a Bassett Mirror - frameless mirror with decorative floral wood or metal corners and centers

 

Thank you.

Age and Value of a Bassett Mirror
 
Age and Value of a Bassett Mirror
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
January 2, 20200 found this helpful
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If you are looking to sell the mirror then I would suggest that you list this locally and stay away from eBay. On eBay, they can take a long time to sell and then you have to worry about boxing this up so it won't be damaged to send it to the buyer. People are asking around $150 to $350 for the item. I would start off on the higher side and then you can work your way down. I would say the average value for the mirrow is around $225 to $250.

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March 13, 2019

I have inherited this mirror and have done as much research as possible. Is there any value to it? The frame is plastic, but I believe that it was produced in the 1940s or 50s.

It is in great condition also.

Value of a Vintage Bassett Mirror - large ornate framed mirror
 
Value of a Vintage Bassett Mirror
 
Value of a Vintage Bassett Mirror
 
Value of a Vintage Bassett Mirror
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
March 14, 20190 found this helpful
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My understanding and memory of Bassett products is that they used the plastics mostly in the 1960s, so unless my memory is wrong (it happens a lot so that is possible) or they started using it before then and I just always knew about the later pieces), I am thinking your mirror may be from that era.

Do you have any paperwork like a bill of sale on it to show it was older? Or do you remember it being around in the 40s-50s? That would confirm the age.

Either way, where I am (this is the caveat) in Pittsburgh, the plastic frame Bassett's while lovely, did not hold their value and sell for less than $75, sometimes as low as $25. Now, if you are in a place where there is a high demand for Victorian pieces that are not wood, you may fetch a little more.

I was looking to show you some examples of sold ones (which is the only way to show value--finding and exact Apples to Apples one that sold--and I am not finding any at the moment that can confirm today's ACTUAL value, so my caveat is that generally this is what these fetch in Pittsburgh on any given day. Nationally even, I can't find an exact match that sold which is surprising.

There are a ton of variables with mirrors also...like if there is even a single spot that needs resilvered, it drastically drops the price. If there is any discoloration to the frame, the same. If it is beveled mirror glass it ups the price a tad. Yours looks to be in very nice shape, but not beveled.

Thanks for sharing it!! These are neat pieces and people that love them LOVE them so I hope you find someone who loves it and MUST HAVE it for their special space!

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August 17, 2019

This mirror was in my now 116yr old house when I bought it almost 15 years ago. (Along with some pretty hideous wallpaper.) It has been moving around the house in those years and it is time for it to finally make an exit.

I have no idea if it has any value.

Value of a Bassett Wall Mirror - ornate gold painted frame wall mirror
 
Value of a Bassett Wall Mirror
 
Value of a Bassett Wall Mirror
 

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
August 17, 20190 found this helpful

This one is asking $320. www.ebay.com/.../303101842074?hash=item469247129a...

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
August 18, 20190 found this helpful

Neat-o item! Classic Hollywood Regency style. Lots and lots and lots of these were sold in the 50s through 1970s, which were I am makes these literally a dime a dozen. Nearly yard sale and flea market in Pittsburgh has one like this for sale.

I did some looking at some of my sources from around the country and this particular style--most are sitting unsold from $10-50, and when they are selling they are fetching in the low end of the range from $10-20.

There were some much fancier Bassets with beveled glass and art deco styling that fetch more in the market, but those are much more rare and hard to find in the marketplace.

The basic ones like yours that are selling are pristine...mirrors not needing re-silvered, solid frames, no cracks, etc.

It is hard to tell from the photo because of reflections if the discoloration I am seeing is in the mirror or just reflections from the room. If yours has any discoloration or needs re-silvering, that will definitely lower the value.

You could always put it on your local Facebook Sale Want Trade sites or Next Door and ask $50 and take best offer.

Post back with an update!! Happy selling!!

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
August 19, 20190 found this helpful

This one was mass produced and doesn't have a great value at this time.It is very lovely!

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October 22, 2022

I bought this mirror off a guy for $10 who said he found in the trash. It is stamped Bassett mirror on the back with the date of June 21 1903 (year was a bit smudged but looks like that date).

The mirror looks to have come off a dresser or something. The mirror is also gold tinted. I am curious of the value of this piece.

A gold tinted mirror to attach to a dresser.
 
The back of a gold tinted mirror.
 

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
October 22, 20220 found this helpful

You do not provide the measurements but it looks rather small for a dresser mirror.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate for a chest of drawers or a bureau.
It is very difficult to tell very much from your pictures - especially the condition of the wood and the mirror.
Sometimes an individual mirror will sell for $50-$100 or more, but it will be difficult and expensive to ship.
You might want to try listing it on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and show it as 'local pick up only'.
Be sure to consider all offers.

You will need very good pictures and descriptions.
Look at other listings to get some ideas.

 
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