Monday, January 17, 2011

Object of the Day: A Vintage Frameless Mirror

Borrowing a concept from Venetian glass-makers, the frameless beveled mirror rose in popularity during the 1920’s. Considered quite the height of fashion in the U.S. and Britain, frameless mirrors soon dominated the market and found themselves in use in a variety of decors. Such mirrors had been around since the late 1800’s, but reached their pinnacle in the early Twentieth Century as designers relied more on shine and shape than they did ornamentation.


Frameless beveled mirrors took a variety of shapes, often mimicking the cuts of gems and adapting the more formal shapes of heavily-framed mirrors. These objects were at once informal and elegant, affording a sense of architecture without imposing the structure of a framed mirror.

This mirror—while appearing round, is actually comprised of thirteen straight edges. Mirrors such as this one can be found frequently in antique shops. If you find one that you lake, but don’t wish to hang it on the wall, you’ll discover that they also make great “table lakes.” Such a mirror can be placed on a flat surface to reflect the objects placed on top of it, creating a handsome display which playfully reflects the light of the room.

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