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Painted Tortoise Shell Mirror

Original price $1,250.00 - Original price $1,250.00
Original price
$1,250.00
$1,250.00 - $1,250.00
Current price $1,250.00
SKU 2119

(27"x22")

This strong yet elegant tortoise shell mirror is constructed in a classic 19th-century shape, painted with a glowing dark tortoise shell around the bevelled plate. The shell has been carefully sanded and smoothed over, and is carved with symmetrical and delicate curves along the frame, adding to the mirror’s visual diversity. The rich brown, black, and orange colours combine to produce a bold object that will surely be an item of intrigue in your home. As decorating staples and objects of wealth and beauty, mirrors help to enlarge small spaces by reflecting light across rooms and extending one’s field of vision. Before the 18th century, mirrors were made by coating glass with a thin layer of tin and mercury a highly toxic compound. However, in the early 19th century, a safer, new way of mirror-making was invented using silver nitrate. Traditionally, tortoise shell items, such as jewellery, trinkets, and mirrors, were made from the shells of hawksbill sea turtles. Today, tortoise shell objects in most countries are made from plastic.This mid-sized mirror is in excellent condition.

At this time in Europe, a series of revolutions and political upheavals swept through the continent in 1848, during a time that is now referred to as the Springtime of Nations. Starting initially with the second French Revolution, revolutionary actions would occur in approximately 50 countries before the year was over. Many of the revolutions aimed to remove pre-existing monarchical structures and to create independent nation-states. While some actions were successful, several of the revolutions failed initially, before leading to widespread change by the end of the century.