The mirror has a complex and intriguing history that spans centuries and countries around the world. The appeal of the mirror has always been clear: it allows the user to see and understand their own image with every line and blemish on their face reflected, nothing hidden. The ability of mirrors to reflect light so perfectly is unrivaled by any other object. Without the reflection in the mirror, no one would be proud of their appearance. Because of this ability to reflect light and display appearance so accurately and unbelievably, mirrors were believed to have magical powers.
A well-known superstition about mirrors is that if you break one, you will have 7 years of bad luck. This superstition is believed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were believed to be tools of the gods. Mirrors have been coveted since ancient times, ever since man first saw his reflection in a pond or lake. In highly cultured areas of the world like Rome and Egypt, they used cruder ways to see a reflection of his image, making mirrors out of materials like bronze and metal. This was long before the more advanced and practical manufacture of glass mirrors. The manufacture of glass revolutionized the way mirrors work. Before this, the word “mirror” represented any material that had been designed in a way that allowed the user to see their reflection. Nowadays, when one hears the word “mirror” they associate it with a sheet of glass that is used as a decorative object or as a domestic object. Mirrors are now extremely common objects and it would be hard to find a home without one. However, mirrors were not always so common. This article looks at the long history of the mirror and focuses especially on the Venetian glassmakers who revolutionized the world of mirrors with the creation of the Venetian glass mirror.
The history of mirror glass making began in 1255 when craftsmen, pearl, jar and glass makers settled in Murano, Italy, the birthplace of the now famous Venetian mirror. The appeal of Murano was that these craftsmen could protect the secrets of their trades from prying eyes. Venetian glassmakers rushed to join them to be included in the protection. These Murano glassmakers produced the world-renowned Venetian glass, from which the production of Venetian mirrors later began. In the 15th century, Murano glass was known throughout Europe for its high quality, beauty and elegance. Murano glassmakers knew how to make crystal clear glass and also discovered a totally unique solution to produce large pieces of glass with flawless surfaces and highly reflected surfaces, which distinguish them from all other types of glass and glassmakers. The beauty of glass made in Venice was attributed to 3 main things. The first was the composition of the salt and soda in the Italian silica from which it was made. The second was the type of flame used in the cooking process and the third was the salinity of the ocean water used. The many attributes that made Venetian glass so beautiful ensured that by the early 16th century, the Venetian glass industry was expanding and virtually eliminating all competition from around the world. The production of mirrors in Venice began with the manufacture of Venetian glass.
Mirrors came back into fashion in the early 15th century, at a time when mirror and glass making was rapidly evolving in Venice. Venetian glassmakers were already famous for their elegant and beautiful style of glass production, so in the early 16th century, Venice became a center for mirror production. Venetian mirror makers used their world renowned and magnificent glass to produce authentic Venetian mirrors. These mirrors were considered the purest mirrors in the world, unmatched by any other manufacturer’s material. During the 16th century (and a couple of centuries after), real Venetian mirrors were very hard to come by. Small steel mirrors became an everyday object because they were available everywhere and cheap to buy. However, in terms of mirror quality, real Venetian glass mirrors were absolutely unrivaled by unattractive, non-fancy, small steel mirrors. Later the Venetian mirrors were covered. They were exported not only throughout Europe, but also to the East. Two famous palaces, Isfahan Palace and Lahore Palace bought Venetian mirrors which they proudly hung in their decorative and extravagant palaces.
• Real Venetian mirrors remained a rare item in the 16th century and the following two centuries, with polished metal mirrors still the most widespread. The small steel mirror was an everyday object that could be bought anywhere.
• Venetian mirrors, or Venetian-style mirrors, can also be purchased, but only from well-stocked, high-end haberdashers who specialize in valuables. A merchant named Andre Clement had a boutique called “Fleur de Lys” on rue Saint-Jacques in Paris in 1520. His inventory mentions “two mirrors from Venice” valued at over £5,500. The Venetian mirror could no longer be found and was extremely difficult to find outside of the city of Paris.
• In the mid-17th century, many types of materials were used in mirrors, including steel and precious metals like gold and silver, but anyone who had experienced their reflection in a Venetian glass mirror knew there was no comparison in terms of quality and beauty.
• Before 1581-1622 in Paris there were only nine Venetian glass mirrors in two hundred and forty-eight estate inventories.
• At the beginning of the 16th century, Venetian mirrors were very expensive and most were worth around £8,000.
• Due to the economic depression in Italy that deprived it of numerous clients, Venice increased its initiatives towards foreign markets and focused these efforts on France, one of its best clients.