In Greek mythology, the hunter Narcissus fell in love with the image he saw in a reflecting pool water and, thereby fell in love with his own reflection. Failing to realize that it was not some other hunk staring back at him but his own face, his self-obsession ultimately doomed him. Ever since then people, have been fascinated with their own reflection.
A cast bronze mirror unearthed in China was dated as early as 2000 BCE. The Egyptians made mirrors of metal as early as ca. 2900 BC. These were made of polished bronze shaped into flat round discs with handles of wood, metal or ivory.
Small, convex glass mirrors have been found in archaeological digs dating to the 3rd century. They were made of glass tiles cut from blown glass pieces, thus were always slightly curved and colored. Around 500 AD, somewhat clearer and more reflective glass mirrors using silver-mercury amalgams were made. Examples have been found in China dated as early as ca. 500 AD. But another thousand years would pass before silvery-mercury amalgam processes became more efficient—and less deadly.
Over time, fine glass mirrors became somewhat more affordable, but were still costly and prized possessions for the middle or merchant classes that began to acquire them.
Most early American mirrors were made in England, and later imported from France as well. American-made mirrors didn’t become common until well after the American Revolution.
In 1835, German chemist Justus von Liebig invented the silvered-glass mirror. The process involved applying a thin layer of metallic silver onto glass through the chemical reduction of silver nitrate. This silvering process was adapted for mass manufacturing and led to the greater availability of affordable mirrors.
The frames of most antique mirrors generally reflected the furniture style of the period in which they were made, for example, Queen Anne or Chippendale. As mirrors were still quite expensive, if an owner had the bad luck to break one, rather than trying to replace it, he might build a frame to fit the largest piece. These were
called “make-do” or “fragment” mirrors. Later make-do mirrors are fairly common, but real and early ones are rare and will be more expensive than the later ones.
Genuine antique mirror glass will have imperfections. Because mercury oxidizes over time, there should be cloudy spots or blotches near the edges or across the surface. The glass may also have bubbling and a crystalline or sparkly appearance from the mercury backing. Older glass is usually much thinner than modern glass and normally has a yellow or grey tone, rather than being colorless. These imperfections are strong indications that the mirror is an antique.
Antique mirrors are more than just reflective surfaces; they are portals to the past, adding charm and character to any décor.
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