Verre Eglomise is a traditional technique for creating handcrafted mirrors. When employing this method, craftspeople would apply gold leaf to the rear side of a piece of glass in order to create a mirrored panel. Oftentimes, the artisan would render an ornate design or even a silhouette portrait within the gold leaf.
These mirrors were in fashion during the 1700’s and 1800’s as well as the early 1900’s.
Unfortunately, we don’t see as many Verre Eglomise mirrors today. This is likely due to the fact that the mirrored panels aren’t as reflective as the mirrors we have today. They’re far more decorative than they are functional.
While these mirrors fell out of fashion during the last century, we’ve seen a recent resurgence among antique collectors and vintage furniture connoisseurs. Even some artisans have taken up the technique, creating Verre Eglomise mirrors with a modern twist.