This fortnightly feature was published on August 29

Reflecting beauty

By Harkiran Sodhi

MIRRORS find themselves an intrinsic part of every household today. Initially popular for a purely functional reason, today they are gaining believers —people who feel mirrors, if correctly placed, have the magical powers to be able to turn fortunes.

A mirror has been defined as "a device that forms an optical image by reflection, as distinguished from a lens, which forms an image by refraction." Any flat, polished material reflects at least some light and thus acts as an elementary mirror.

Popular since 4 BC, when mirrors were used in Rome, they were associated with having magical powers due to their reflective quality. Initially, mirrors were crudely fashioned from any metal which was polished to give it a reflective surface. In time, glass was backed with sheets of thin metal foil to give a more lasting mirror, with silver being the most popular choice as it is the best reflector.

In 1835, German chemist Just as von Liebig developed the method of chemical deposition of silver on glass and this process, known as silvering, is still used in the manufacture of the common household mirror. However, most mirrors used for scientific or technical purposes are made by a different process known as vacuum evaporation.

Hand-held mirrors which were relatively small in size were the only size mirrors in the olden days. It was only in Murano, Italy, in the 16th century that large mirrors were first made. Glass makers started making mirrors from blown glass which was polished and silvered, a process which made larger mirrors a possibility.

With the invention of float glass, mirrors as we see them today, came into being. Developed in the 1950’s, this technique has the glass floated on a sheet of molten tin, making it possible to make mirrors that were almost totally free of any distortion.

By the 17th century the French had discovered the technique of making plate glass. In this technique molten glass is poured on iron tables which were covered with sand. This was then rolled and finally polished. Mirrors became popular and used in as many different ways as the fancy took people. Over mantel-shelves, dressing tables, consoles — mirrors were to be seen everywhere.

Today, mirrors are used in homes for a variety of reasons. The most common and obvious one of course being the functional aspect. Some people also use mirrors to try to rectify construction flaws in their homes. If you have a room that is very cramped then a large mirror tends to open out the space and make the room seem larger than it really is. Also in rooms that are ill-lit by natural light, a mirror that is correctly placed can catch the light from any window and reflect it in the room, making it appear brighter.

Today the Chinese use mirrors as a cure of many misfortunes that strike people. They believe that "the brilliance of the mirror represented the light of the sun and the moon combined: communicated the intention of the powers of the earth beneath and the spirits in heaven above."

Mirrors are certainly not cheap today and while buying one we would like to be certain that what we are buying is good and will last us. Firstly, when buying a mirror, check and see that their is no distortion in the image reflected in it. Sheet glass mirrors are often of an interior quality while float glass is far superior and give less distorted images.

Black spots on a mirror, which is another common problem, are due to improper drying during the silvering process. If a mirror is placed in a spot where it has to contend with a high level of moisture, then again black spots could be the end result. Mirrors that are placed too low in a bathroom have water splashing on them from the sink or the bathing area, which can shorten the life-span of the mirror. Similar is the case with a decorative mirror that is hung on a wall that is damp.

There are many different options in framing a mirror. Simple wooden frames were the most common in the olden days and still are liked by many for their simplistic looks. In these one must ensure that the wood used is of very good quality and the varnish well done. Carved wooden frames are another option which is used in ethnic settings. Here though the quality of the wood can be so-so, the quality of the carving and varnish must be good.

Stained glass frames are also used to offset mirrors, as are boldly coloured ceramic tiles. Both these should be matched to specific decors in the room where they are to be placed, as the effect could be rather jarring if placed incorrectly.

Along with the varying frames for mirrors are the different shapes these are available in. Circular, oval, square, the options are never ending. The shape of the frame really should appeal to you as well as suit the wall it is to be hung on as there is no yardstick good or bad here. Mirrors are an invention that has helped make man more vain as well as more aware of his many flaws. Mirrors when judiciously used in any home do add to its own special look and aura.