The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-10-04
USE or MIRRORS
Oriuin Is shrouded in Mlsts Of
Mythology.
cI.opatra Used One Made OF Metal
Those Of Glass Are Modern
Invention.

Most ancient of all accessories tor
wonlen's toilet is the mirror, that re-
aecting bit of vanity which means SO
much in our daily life, as well as IN
our scheme of decoration. It's origin
Is shrOuded in the twilight OF mythoi'
ogy and our real clews are the rag
ments which mother earth ana the
tombs have rendered bacS to us, some
times in a fair state of preservation
Glass was made by the Egyptians,
vet the only mirrors that have come
down 20 US from them are like those
from other ancient sources, OF metal
very highly polished and OFTEN o II
tanning silver and gold. The hrSt FORM
Of the mirror was the hand glass and
II is the fragments of this that remain
to US. We know, however, that metal
mirrors were made in sections so ar
ranged in grooves in the wall that they
could slide up and down to show the
figure at full length. Cleopatra is sup
posed to have possessed such a mir
ror, but its magnihCence can only be
Imagined, as no authentic description
of 1t is available.
Glass mirrors coated with tin have
been found in Italy that were used in
the days of Pompey, but just when n
where quicksiIver-backed glass was
first employed has never been definite
ly established. AS early as 1873 the
Germans had acquired a knowledge OF
glass mirror work, and in the Fifteenth
century they invented a curious form
Of mirror construction called the
bulls eye"
In the Sixteenth century the Vene-
tians did much business in the manu-
tacture and exporting of glasses with
quicksilver backs, and In 1865 the
French government induced 20 OF
these glassworkers to come to Paris,
where In the year 1851 a method of
making plate glass was perfected
which made France thereafter the
mirror market of the world.
The history OF mirror making In
England might be said to date from
1870. From this time on rapid strides
were made in the manufacture of look.
Eyeglasses, those of Queen Anne and
Georgian periods being particularly
notable.
Mirror glass in its early stages was
blown" and beyond the length Of
three and one-half feet was too thin
to serve as mirrors. In case "a great
er length was desired, it was neces-
sary to add a second piece, and thus
the longer glasses Of the early Eight
eenth century were made in two pieces.
n overlapping the other, or fin
ished with a mOlding to hide the in
tersection.
In the latter part of the Eighteenth
century Chippendale-made mirrors Of
great charm was made, and II was In
this time that Chinese designs became
popular. Later, Hepplewhite and the
brothers Adam designed mirrors of
real worth, the former in shield and
oval shapes, usually in pairs.
In the earlier part Of the Georgian
period the revival of the Queen Anne
mirror began. and by 1900 the lines of
this model were much seen. Previous
to this looking-glasses were manufac-
tured in large numbers in this coun-
try, and from 1880 to 1890 the famous
Constitution" glasses were made.
This. period also marked the vogue of
the quaint Girandoles and bulls eyes.
Mantel glasses were in great de-
mand throughout the Eighteenth cen
fury, but more especially after 176O.
when both oval and oblong shapes be-
gan to be popular. The cheval glass,
never at any time a common piece of
furniture. enjoyed Its greatest favor
about 1880. Some excellent designs of
this type had been previously fash
Toned by the great English cabinet
makers, notably Sheraton. but com
paratively few have survived in this
country.-Arts and Decoration.