by Lutz-R. Frank

Venetian Mirrors – An Exciting Account

The mirror has a complex and captivating record that spans centuries and countries all through the world. The mirror’s appeal has always held a fascination for that user, this is something where they could view their image without fault and satisfy their deep need to see oneself as others see them. The mirror reflects images so perfectly that it cannot be imitated by some other surface on any tool. Without the mirror image within the mirror, no-one would take satisfaction of their appearance. But is it also because of this ability to reflect the light and the dark perfectly that the mirror can be labeled a lot of things, including a magical object.

One of the hottest belief concerning the mirror is that when gets broken, this would entail the breaker seven years of bad luck. This belief has its roots way back in times before written history when it was believed how the gods were those who produced mirrors. The mirrors ability to reflect the image continues to be a coveted experience for those who first behold it way back in prehistory. In the times of the Roman Empire and within the palaces of Egypt, mirrors of highly polished metal like bronze, silver and gold were considered to be one of the most treasured items that were buried with the owners. This was long before the more advanced and practical glass-making of mirrors. Glass-making revolutionized how mirrors would work. The word “mirror” as we all know it today did not mean glass in history, it had been any metallic surface that were highly polished to give off a semblance of a reflection. Today, the word means a sheet of glass that features a reflective coating at the rear and maybe designed and beveled for beauty and become part of decor. Mirrors are actually extremely commonplace objects, and you’d be hard pushed to find a house without one. However,this wasn’t possible in the past. What is being written here will give people a concept on the evolution of the mirror, especially that of the Venetian glass makers who made revolutionary innovations on what is now commonly called the Venetian glass mirror.

The history of the glass making of mirrors began in 1255 when artisans, the makers of pearls, flasks and glass, settled in Murano, Italy, the birthplace of now famous Venetian mirror.  Murano was a place that meant security for its artisans who didn’t want their secrets to get known by other traders. Venetian glass makers hurried to join them to be included in protection. These glass makers later produced the excellent quality of Venetian glass which later on got innovated into the world famous Venetian glass mirrors . By the end of the Middle Ages, the Murano glass became synonymous with quality, elegance, style and sophistication when it came to glass works of art.  The glass makers in Murano came across and kept the key of constructing large sheets of glass and crystal which not just was of superior quality but had a unique tone when flicked by the finger, and the bubble free crystal made the reflective surfaces a thing to covet .

The beauty of the glass made in Venice was attributed to 3 main things. First, the salt and soda composition from silica which was the primary ingredient. Two, the type of fire that was used in the course of the firing, and three, the salt composition in the salt water from the sea. The known world at the moment categorized the Venetian glass as superior in quality which eventually insured the demise of the other glass industries in the known world. When the Venetian glass making started, so did the birth of glass mirrors. When the standard of the glass and crystal making made a difference to mirrors, again the requirement for quality mirrors began to get all the rage once more. The Venetian glass makers were already famed for their elegant and beautiful style of glass production, so initially of the 16th century, Venice became a center of mirror production. Venetian mirror makers used their world-renowned and beautiful glass to produce authentic Venetian mirrors. Try as they could, other glass makers all over the world could never quite produce the exact quality of pure glass as the Venetians did.

During the 16th century (and 2 centuries after), real Venetian mirrors were very hard to come by. Small steel mirrors became an everyday object because they were obtainable all over the place and were not expensive to buy. In terms of quality of the mirror though, real Venetian glass mirrors were utterly unrivaled by the unappealing, non extravagant and little steel mirrors. Venetian mirrors were coveted after. It became so famous that not only were they exported all through the know world but its fame reached the far ends of the East. Two famous palaces, the Isfahan palace and Lahore palace purchased Venetian mirrors which they arrogantly hung in their decorative and extravagant palaces.

- Real Venetian mirrors remained a rare object during the 16th century and following couple of centuries, and polished metal mirrors remained by far the most widespread. These steel mirrors were commonplace and inexpensive.

- Only people who were the very rich and people who had the suitable connections could purchase or get hold of Venetian mirrors. A merchant called Andre Clement kept a boutique called the “Fleur de Lys” by the rue Saint-Jacques in Paris in 1520 his inventory mentions “two mirrors from Venice” valued at over £5,500. Not only were the Venetian mirrors expensive, they were also very hard to acquire and own .

- Steel, gold and silver were polished to reflect images and this satisfied the majority, however, once someone sees their reflection on the glass mirrors of Venice, the standard alone was enough to frustrate the purchasers.

- Before 1581-1622 in Paris there were only nine Venetian glass mirrors in 2 hundred and forty eight estate inventories.

- Venetian mirrors were steep way back around the 16th century when they reached the cost of just above £8000, these are costlier today.

- A major financial depression unhappily hit Italy, Venice in particular, which made them give attention to France as their major supply of foreign markets.

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