We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.
We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.
Verre Eglomise Wall Mirror
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.
(Verre eglomise was the precursor to the antiqued mirror you see today. )
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.
You can build a custom verre eglmoise mirror by clicking here.
How is verre eglomise done?
Prepare the glass. (clean it and make sure it is dry.)
Take the stencil you want and place it under the glass. Use a putty to ensure the stencil sticks to the glass and will not move while you are working.
Apply the paint to the areas you want.
Mix your gelatin capsules with warm water and mix this well
Making sure the paint is completely dried, you can apply the silver or gold leaf keeping it away from all water.
When the leaf and size is dried, you can take cotton and gently rub the surface
It is recommended that you take black Japan oil paint to protect the project