The Magic of Bespoke Mirrors

For something that reflects light, makes rooms look larger and gives us a sense of ourselves; mirrors can get a pretty bad press!

For centuries mirrors have been associated with bad luck. Even the production of them was fraught with problems, especially when mercury was part of the coating used to make them during the Renaissance period.

Through silver nitrate and now aluminium finishes, mirrors have gone from a luxury to a mass produced commodity, although that doesn’t mean our appetite for bespoke mirrors and bespoke frames around them has dimmed.

Humans are one of the few animals who can recognise their own reflection and so it stands to reason that we would want to celebrate this gift. Of course, it is the power of this gift that led to the idea that mirrors trap souls, and that’s why breaking one is supposed to be bad luck.

But mirrors are really about making a good impression than making bad luck. The placement of mirrors in homes and businesses has the immediate effect of multiplying the space and reflects light to areas not covered by windows and in hard-to-reach corners.

There are ‘feng shui’ guidelines as to where it is best to place bespoke mirrors, and it is possible to go overboard and create something sinister when it should have been playful. It is the use of mirrors in the bedroom that causes most concern. Some people feel uncomfortable having their sleeping area reflected, and often a mirror is best placed opposite a window or above a dressing table.

There are some superstitious teachings that you might want to take heed of. One is never allow a cracked one into your house – well who would want that, unless it was an antique and it could be repaired? The other is not to reflect bills, open, fires or old newspapers. Negative connotations aside, the underlying lesson here is, reflect something worth reflecting. The mirror is the real life painting of your world so let it show something good.

Article Written by Chelsea Harvey.