Mirror Mirror…
Our latest Boutique auction, Mirror Mirror has 30 of these creations that we use everyday.
Taken from the Latin mirare and mirari (“to look at” and “to wonder at, admire,”), a mirror can be any reflective surface created for the purpose of seeing oneself. Mirrors have come a long way since they were created by polishing obsidian nearly 8000 years ago.
In literature, mirrors often appeared as powerful symbols or as portals to other worlds. In Art, mirrors in paintings helped convey perspectives and also complex stories within the artwork. Then one artist, Leonardo da Vinci took things a step further introducing a secret code for spies that involved writing in a way that could only be read with a mirror reflection.
Glass mirrors with a silver backing were first made in Murano around the 16th Century.These Venetian masters, not only transformed the world of interior decoration, but also created an object of desire, a symbol of social status. It wasn’t uncommon to see mirrors written into wills and considered “a family’s most cherished possession”. One of the most visited spaces in the world, Versailles “Hall of Mirrors” was installed not principally for the King and his visitors to look at themselves, but rather to expand the space and to optically bring the view of the gardens inside. Mirrors give space…they don’t take up space. The discovery of the silver deposition process on glass by Justus von Liebig in 1835 was a milestone that revolutionised the mirror industry and helped them to become a more affordable object that found its place in almost every home.
From astronomical telescopes that expand our knowledge of the universe to precision optical instruments used in medicine and industry, mirrors play a huge part in our lives. They are a man-made piece of magic…they can let you see something you normally can’t — yourself.
Now open for bidding online.
Auction starts closing Monday from 7.30pm.
Items can be inspected at our auction complex Friday & Monday 11am – 4pm