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Finding the Right Mirrors for You
The road from early innovations in reflective glass to the alluring antique and vintage mirrors in trendy modern interiors has been a long one but we’re reminded of the journey everywhere we look.
In many respects, wall mirrors, floor mirrors and full-length mirrors are to interior design what jeans are to dressing. Exceedingly versatile. Universally flattering. Unobtrusively elegant. And while all mirrors are not created equal, even in their most elaborate incarnation, they're still the heavy lifters of interior design, visually enlarging and illuminating any space.
We’ve come a great distance from the polished stone that served as mirrors in Central America thousands of years ago or the copper mirrors of Mesopotamia before that. Today’s coveted glass Venetian mirrors, which should be cleaned with a solution of white vinegar and water, were likely produced in Italy beginning in the 1500s, while antique mirrors originating during the 19th century can add the rustic farmhouse feel to your mudroom that you didn’t know you needed.
By the early 20th century, experiments with various alloys allowed for mirrors to be made inexpensively. The geometric shapes and beveled edges that characterize mirrors crafted in the Art Deco style of the 1920s can bring pizzazz to your entryway, while an ornate LaBarge mirror made in the Hollywood Regency style makes a statement in any bedroom. Friedman Brothers is a particularly popular manufacturer known for decorative round and rectangular framed mirrors designed in the Rococo, Louis XVI and other styles, including dramatic wall mirrors framed in gold faux bamboo that bear the hallmarks of Asian design.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, mid-century modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary mirrors. Today’s simple yet chic mantel mirror frames, for example, often neutral in color, owe to the understated mirror designs introduced in the postwar era.
Sculptor and furniture maker Paul Evans had been making collage-style cabinets since at least the late 1950s when he designed his Patchwork mirror — part of a series that yielded expressive works of combined brass, copper and pewter — for Directional Furniture during the mid-1960s. Several books celebrating Evans’s work were published beginning in the early 2000s, as his unconventional furniture has been enjoying a moment not unlike the resurgence that the Ultrafragola mirror is seeing. Designed by the Memphis Group’s Ettore Sottsass in 1970, the Ultrafragola mirror, in all its sensuous acrylic splendor, has become somewhat of a star thanks to much-lauded appearances in shelter magazines and on social media.
On 1stDibs, we have a broad selection of vintage and antique mirrors and tips on how to style your contemporary mirror too.
- What is a Venetian mirror?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 21, 2020
While polished metal mirrors have existed since ancient times, glass Venetian mirrors are thought to have first been produced on the Venetian island of Murano, in Italy, beginning in the 1500s (some research points to 1300 for Venetian mirrors). Set in ornate frames frequently bedecked with gold highlights or floral leaf designs, Venetian glass mirrors were handmade by artisans using refined, expert techniques for royalty and for members of the upper class. By the 17th century, Venetian mirrors were in high demand. Because antique Venetian glass mirrors are still very popular today, there are many knockoffs on the market. Today’s authentic Venetian mirrors are still produced only on the island of Murano.
- How do I clean Venetian mirrors?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To clean Venetian mirrors, mix one part white vinegar with two parts warm water. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with the solution and wipe down the mirror. Then, wipe it again with a second cloth moistened only with water. Dry with a lint-free cloth. Find a variety of antique Venetian mirrors on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 21, 2020
Regular glass cleaners don’t contain that much vinegar. This means that these cleaners are good for mild cleansing, but for antique glass Venetian mirrors, which tend to get cloudy, a more thorough way to clean is to use only white vinegar. Dampen a clean soft cloth with a solution of white vinegar and water (one part vinegar to two parts water) and apply to your Venetian glass mirror. After you’ve cleaned your Venetian mirror with vinegar, clean the mirror with warm water on a soft cloth in order to get rid of the vinegar smell. Alternatively, if you have difficulty with the smell of vinegar, use rubbing alcohol instead (but be sure that you’re only applying these methods to the glass rather than the frame).
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 21, 2020
Repairs and replacements can go toward devaluing any piece of antique or vintage furniture, and any modifications or repairs done to a centuries-old mirror should be handled by experts and executed with care. Because antique Venetian mirrors were handcrafted by Italian artisans and can in some cases be hundreds of years old, it is strongly recommended that you consult with experts in the field of restoring antique or decorative mirrors in the event that your piece should require restorative work.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 21, 2020
Ornate and elegant, Venetian mirrors obviously have their practical uses for any room in your house or apartment, but these works, which were handcrafted by skilled artisans on the Venetian island of Murano, in Italy, for centuries, are versatile. Given the broad array of shapes and sizes in which antique Venetian glass mirrors can be found — as well as the variety of designs — these mirrors can also be utilized as a decorative focal point, as if you’re hanging a painting or positioning a sculpture to brighten an otherwise drab corner of your home. Antique Venetian mirrors can be used in formal dining settings, where the opportunity for reflecting chandelier light or natural light from large windows is present, or even a bathroom, where the piece can be as useful as it is tasteful.
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