Mirrors - Through The Looking Glass

It’s a fact that people want to look at themselves and the way we get do this is with a devise called a mirror. It really is a very simple invention usually made with a piece of glass and a metal coating over the glass. The coating produces the reflection.

Humans have always been curious and vane, so in the early days they would take pieces of bronze, tin or silver and highly polish these. After many hours of hard labor it would produce your reflection.

Hand held mirrors were the first mirrors made by the Greeks and the Romans. Then around the 1st century came the full length mirror. These mirrors had decorative carved frames and were exceptionally heavy. These large mirrors showed great wealth and became a status symbol for the rich. For a brief period of time during the medieval days glass mirrors totally disappeared. It was in this time period that people believed that the devil was looking and watching you from the opposite side of the mirror. Also in Russia during the 17th century having a mirror was considered a sin. That is how many of our superstitions got started. For example: breaking a mirror will bring 7 years of bad luck.

Around the 18th century painted frames on mirrors were introduced. Builders also started experimenting with the different shapes and sizes for the various designs. In the 19th century the cost finally dropped and the common man could now adorn these in their homes. This also was the time that mirrors became part of furniture. In almost every home you would find a mirror for the wardrobe used in the bedroom.

In today’s age you can’t find a home without a mirror. We should learn to appreciate the function of the mirror and the esthetic value that it delivers. When you’re in a room with a mirror you can notice how it brings sparkle and illusion to the room. It helps reflect the light from the room and this makes a small room look larger. You can hang a mirror almost anywhere. You can also hang it from the ceiling which creates a sky light effect. Mirrors are easy to hang and usually do not require any special tools or skill. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and fit any decor.

You can purchase custom made mirrors and you can find mirrors that come with extra storage space that is built into it. Mirrors can also be used to accent. They can be used on wall candle holders and to enlarge your small collectables. Most of the mirrors we have in our homes have been manufactured in an environmentally friendly way.

A mirror can bring back memories. My son was the baby in my family. I guess I used to call him that more often then by name. One day when he was only 2 years old,  we were standing in front of the mirror. I asked him who that was in the mirror and from the mouth of babes he turned to me and said it was the baby in the mirror. You can imagine we still laugh about that today.

Whatever mirror you choose, elegant or casual, it will bring delightful beauty to your surroundings. So the next time you look at yourself in a mirror, go ahead and reflect at this amazing discovery.

Barbara Tobiasz resides in the Chicago area and studied at the Art Institute. She has consulted and volunteered her services for many organizations with her creative expressions in the interior design field. Her hobbies include reading, taking long walks with her dog and working her magic turning ordinary rooms into creative works of art. For more information on Mirrors, go to: http://www.wall-decor-concepts.com