The Medieval Technology Pages Medieval Mirrors Mirrors are ancient. The Greeks and Romans commonly used mirrors of polished bronze as did the Celts. Such mirrors were used during the medieval period as well. Nevertheless, information on mirrors in the medieval period is scanty.
Mirrors seem to have been common items of commerce during the Middle Ages.
However, in these mirrors the back of the glass was tinned, a Venetian process in which lead was applied to polished glass and then covered with mercury, forming an amalgam. After several days the mercury was drained, leaving a very flat and shiny surface under the glass. The back of the mirror was then varnished to protect it. True silvering was a 19th century process. This page is maintained by Paul J. Gans .