How Were Antique Mirrors Embossed?

How Were Antique Mirrors Embossed? thumbnail
Embossed antique mirror

Antique mirrors are made from handcrafted old glass, with frames that are artistically decorative. Old glass on antique mirrors consist of a mixture of silvered glass as the reflective part, and the frame around this glass as the decorative.

  1. Features

    • Antique mirror frames are the part of the mirror that is embossed. Antique mirrors were embossed with carvings within the metal. Sometimes there were inlay patterns etched into the glass, or inlaid with precious and semiprecious materials on the frame, such as mother of pearl or tortoiseshell.

    Types

    • Metals used to emboss antique mirrors include the use of silver and wrought iron, surrounding an oval, rectangular or round mirror shape. Tin and copper also were used to emboss antique mirrors in various patterns and designs.

    Time Frame

    • Various era mirrors had their own distinctive design with use of metal. For instance, Victorian era antique mirrors of the 19th century were highly embossed with decorative bronze carvings surrounding the actual glass mirror.

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References

  • Photo Credit old mirror reflexion image by Rog999 from Fotolia.com

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