How Mirrors Are Made: The Process of Creating Mirrored Glass with Silver and Copper Coating

Mirrors have transformed how people navigate their surroundings and appearance, affecting various aspects of their daily lives. This habit of self-reflection can have psychological consequences such as body dysmorphia. However, mirrors have also provided a novel view of oneself, a luxury not available to early humans due to technological limitations.

History of Mirrors

In ancient times, people had to rely on distorted reflections in water for self-perception. The preoccupation with appearance is a modern concept, contrasting with historical norms.

Around 6,000 BC, early mirrors emerged in Anatolia crafted from polished stone, while cultures like the Mayans, ancient Chinese, and Ancient Egyptians produced rudimentary mirrors for the elite, often using materials like polished copper, obsidian, or lead.

These mirrors were handheld and only reflected a small portion of light. Even later Japanese mirrors in the 19th century required constant polishing to maintain their reflective quality.

Before modern mirrors, people used convex mirrors, which were often circular and had frames, offering distorted reflections akin to those seen in convenience stores. Wealthy Europeans in the Middle Ages had unique, non-flat glass mirrors, with convex shapes and ornate frames. Such mirrors were symbols of status, as depicted in artworks like the 1434 Arnolfini portrait.

The rise of mirrors coincided with the emergence of portrait art, where the elite sought to preserve their images through commissioned works. Early glass mirrors used molten metal backing, resulting in breakage, until the low-temperature lead backing process was developed in Florence and Venetians guarded mirror-making secrets.

In the past, only the wealthy could afford such mirrors, a far cry from today's accessibility. Before the Renaissance era, mirrors were even more exclusive.

Then the Victorian era came, when modern mirrors were invented in 1835. Justus von Liebig used silver nitrate coating on clear glass in a process called silvering. Although today's amnufacturers use aluminum, the 19th century method remains difficult to make and expensive, hence it is only limited to wealthy people. The idea of understanding one's perception in the world was a privilege. Even into the 20th century, many less affluent families could only afford small mirrors for basic grooming, lacking full-length mirrors in their homes.

Making Mirrors: How Do They Work?

Silver mirror glass is made by silvering the back surface of a glass sheet with silver and copper, involving polishing, cleaning, and eliminating imperfections. A thin layer of silver is sprayed onto the back, followed by painting to protect against scratches and provide a bold, clear image. A safety backing is then applied to prevent shattering and potential harm if the mirror breaks.

Mirrors work by reflecting light particles, or photons, that strike against their silver backing. When photons from an object hit the mirror, they bounce back along their original path, causing a reflection to occur. The smooth and polished surface of the mirror is crucial for this process to create a sharp and clear image of the object, preserving its physical characteristics.

However, rough surfaces like textiles absorb photons instead of reflecting them. This reflective process is how mirrors, including those in mirror doors, display reflections, and it's the most common method used for furniture and home mirrors.