Where can I take an antique mirror to be restored in Chicago or anywhere?

Question:I have a beautiful mirror that was my grandmothers...its circle shaped and the glass is half white, half tinted blue (like water). There's a swan with some willows...it's beautiful! But while it was being stored, somehow it got damp. Over time, the mirror paint or whatever it is in the back began to peel off. It's all chipped and needs new mirror. What is mirror made of? Is it mercury? Where can I bring it to be restored? Thanks for any advice and suggestions!

Answers:
Penny, I am going to be nicer than you. You are from my old hometown; and I like to connect with Chicago people. Hope this information helps :-)

"..If it's unusual (shaped, beveled, engraved, or Grandma's), you could consider getting it resilvered. There's only one place around here we could find that offers this service: Armand Lee & Co. (840 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-455-1200), a business that also does custom framing, design consultation, and conservation and repair of art, antiques, and furniture.

The company, founded in 1940, has been resilvering mirrors since 1984. It's a labor-intensive process that involves removing old silvering, cleaning the glass, and adding layers of sprayed-on solutions (one with real silver). "Quality control is so critical," says Norman P. Olson, the president of Armand Lee. "If you don't get the glass perfectly clean, the silvering won't take properly and then you have to take it all off and start over again." The jobs run $39.60 per square foot.
http://www.chicagohomemag.com/chicago-ho...

Antique Repair and Restoration:

Ar's Attic Orphans
Arlene Blaha
Elk Grove - DesPlaines
(847)981-0799
Furniture Stripping, Refinishing and Repair, Veneer Repair, Mirror Resilvering, Caning

Artisans' Stained Glass
(847)647-9470
Window and Lamp Shade Repair, Custom Designs, & Supplies

Barbara's Restoration
Barbara & Glen McRoberts
Hampshire, IL
847-683-7796 By Appointment
Glass Repair(grinding chips, glueing). Also, repair and/or re-wire lamps and chandeliers.