Queen Anne Bedroom dresser - folding wing mirror

[LenS]

I have a couple of pieces of nice furniture and apparently the type of legs they have mean it is "Queen Anne". The mirror was attached to the back of the dressing table with 4 very coarse wood screws and the wood around the screws is in pretty bad condition.

The weight of the mirror glass seems to be a bit much for the flimsy way it was attached so I took it off and have been wondering how I could attach it better.

These photos are of the mirror and the two posts that hold it together.

Can anyone give me some advice on how it would have originally been connected and if there is a better way?

it is part of a three piece set and I don't really think it fit any of our other furniture so I reckon I'll end up selling it all eventually. But for now, we don't need the space and I like to fiddle so I want to get it back into good condition.

Thanks in advance!

http://web.aanet.com.au/triangle/t/w/m1.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/triangle/t/w/m2.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/triangle/t/w/m3.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/triangle/t/w/m4.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/triangle/t/w/m5.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/triangle/t/w/m6.JPG

[DJ’s Timber]

A lot of the older style furniture was screwed like that.

I agree that they seem a bit flimsy, but they are still attached today aren't they. In most cases the mirror is just sitting on top of the dresser and the screws are to stop it falling over.

I have always unscrewed the mirrors before moving, so that I don't put any stress on the joints.

[Honorary Bloke]

What DJS said. Many old pieces attached the mirror that way, whilst the top supported the weight. Seems like it wouldn't work, dunnit? But it does. :)