Venetian glass mirrors

Venetian Glass mirrors have got to be the most beautiful and intricate pieces of glass furniture in the world that can add a stunning and luxurious touch to any interior design.

The history of  Venetian glass mirrors stems back to the 16th Century when it was the Venetian glassmaker's who worked on the small island of Murano and discovered a unique solution to producing larger pieces of glass with highly reflective qualities and smooth unblemished surfaces. This set the glassmaker's from Murano apart from other glassmaker's with glass mirrors considered to be unrivalled in the rest of the world.

Each mirrors are commonly adorned with highly detailed engravings that are etched by the hands of highly skilled craftsmen making the details of each mirror totally special and unique. Originally Venetian mirrors used mercury and tin foil that was applied to the back of the glass to give its reflective qualities. Thankfully mercury has been replaced by silver which is used on best mirrors.

Intricate Designs Fit For A Palace

The Venetian Glass mirrors are still made to day and many palaces and stately homes are adorned with their intricate and elegant designs. However, because of the workmanship that when into them they were very expensive. In the 17th Century when large mass production was achieved this style of glass mirror was made more affordable. One of the unique design features of the Venetian glass mirror was the etched glass. They would be engraved with highly skilled flower etchings that were cut into the glass around the framed edge. Alternatively, separate engraved glass pieces would adorned around the glass frame.

An original 16th or 17th century glass Venetian mirror would cost a fortune today and you would need to be very well off to afford one. However, all is not lost if want to include a Venetian masterpiece in your interior design project there are a number glass producers who produce high quality replicas and reproductions of the original antique Venetian glass mirrors.

Identifying The Best Quality

 Below is a buying guide to help you identify the best quality:

• Ensure the glass is bevelled as this gives the Venitian glass mirrors its unique style and look. Without a beveled edge the mirror will just look ordinary.
• Check the quality of the etching on the glass. Cheap reproductions use machines that scratch rather than etch the glass also their designs are boring and unimaginative.
• The backing of the mirror is very important. Cheap reproductions will usually cut corners at this point by using thin flimsy wood or cheap metal with uneven surfaces. A quality production will use thick hardwood that supports the glass and strengthens the frame.

There a variety of styles and shapes available to choose from that will enhance your design whether it is a modern cotemporary look or a more traditional 19th or early 20th century theme. The traditional shaped large Venetian mirrors are characterized by their elaborate engravings, with separate pieces of etched glass details that would be a placed around the edges. The most elaborate designs would mount a decorative crown design at the top.

Venetian contemporary mirrors usually have a charming frameless mirror design that will create a more sleek and minimalist look and these work beautifully with a modern interior design. If you would like a little color you can buy mirrors with pinks, blues and ornate decor black frames to match and compliment any color scheme. They also work extremely well hanging on the wall in any room whether it be the hallway, dinning room, bathroom or along the stairs.