I watched a program on the Living Channel this week about some people who purchased a Victoria-era property. The show covered the renovation of the property and also detailed the interior decorating the owners did to keep with the Victorian theme. They mentioned mirrors and hey, presto I had a topic for my Thursday Thirteen.
Thirteen Things About Mirrors
1. A mirror is basically a sheet of glass with an aluminiun or silver coating, which produces a reflection.
2. The history of mirrors is an old one. Early men saw reflections in water and thought they were evil spirits.
3. Most ancient mirrors were sheets of metal, usually in a round shape. The backs of the mirrors were often highly decorated with precious stones.
4. Glass mirrors were invented by the Romans. Those Romans were clever people!
5. It is said that glass mirrors disappeared during medieval times because religious people said the devil watched through mirrors.
6. In the 12th century handheld mirrors were very popular and most well dressed ladies used them. They also used them like jewelry, wearing small ones on a chain around their necks. These were all highly decorative and pretty.
7. King Henry VIII used to be an avid collector of mirrors.
8. These days most people have mirrors in their house, either in the bathroom or bedroom. Some people have decorative mirrors in their living areas.
9. Because of its long history, mirrors have lots and lots of superstitions attached to them.
10. Breaking a mirror is meant to be bad luck for seven years. If a mirror falls off a wall then someone is meant to die.
11. Vampires and witches don’t have a reflection in a mirror because they don’t have a soul.
12. Opinion seems to be mixed on the best thing to use to clean a mirror. I’m slowly using up all my chemical cleaners and going natural so I’m suggesting a “green” way to clean glass or mirrors. Use equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Clean off with a soft rag.
13. Interior decorators use mirrors to make a room seem lighter or larger than it really is. Mirrors are also used to reflect a wonderful view so the house inhabitants get double the pleasure and lastly, they’re used as decoration.
Do you like mirrors? Do you have any tips or factoids to add?
Related posts:
February 11th, 2010 at 3:13 am · Link
That was a very interesting read!! I like stuff like this…it makes Thursday 13 fun.
Come join me if you can…Mine is Thirteen CAT EXPRESSIONS…not photos, word expressions. Find it HERE. Have a wonderful day ahead.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:32 am · Link
PS…how ’bout the name Cat o’ Nine Tails?
February 11th, 2010 at 4:31 am · Link
Interesting read!
Besides being better for you/environment, vinegar cleaning is also so much better for the wallet!!!
February 11th, 2010 at 5:24 am · Link
Henry the Eight was quite full of himself.
13 Random Feelings & Thoughts
February 11th, 2010 at 5:53 am · Link
I try to avoid mirrors lately lol I think we have far too many in the house.
Fun T13!
February 11th, 2010 at 6:14 am · Link
An old Jewish tradition that has crossed into other cultures is covering the mirror when someone dies.
PS I agree with Adelle. I try to avoid mirrors because I’ve discovered it’s possessed. Now every time I take a peek, some old woman stares back at me.
Scary!
February 11th, 2010 at 6:35 am · Link
We have this antique mirror hanging in our foyer that I love. (A housewarming gift from his Mom). When it comes to stuff like that, I love mirrors.
However, I do recall the mirrors from the 80′s with glittery animals (usually tigers, but also unicorns) that came in three pieces and tackied out the entire room they were placed in.
Do you remember those? Eek!
February 11th, 2010 at 7:08 am · Link
LOL this made me laugh – those Romans were very clever weren’t they!!
February 11th, 2010 at 7:27 am · Link
I love posts like this. I always learn so much.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:50 am · Link
I love your TT’s Shelley.
I love the story of how Perseus used the reflection in his shield to behead Medusa. Fascinating stuff.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:49 am · Link
Very interesting!
I don’t like mirrors. I’m always worried I might see something I don’t want to see. Too many scary movies. We only have two in our tiny apartment. One in the bathroom and one in the guest bedroom.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:04 am · Link
Very interesting!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
February 11th, 2010 at 9:08 am · Link
Mirrors are functional and I rarely give them a thought otherwise but I do love the lore around them.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:20 am · Link
Great post, Shelley. Mirrors have such a fascinating history. I remember how awed I was walking into The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. It was amazing!
February 11th, 2010 at 9:35 am · Link
this is neat. I had no idea there were so many facts about mirrors!
February 11th, 2010 at 9:38 am · Link
Me, I spend most of my time avoiding them. LOL! Still, some interesting information here today…
Happy TT! :)
February 11th, 2010 at 10:06 am · Link
I wish I had more skinny mirrors…
Happy Thursday!
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-would-like-to-re-assure-my-friends.html
February 11th, 2010 at 11:22 am · Link
The thing I find most interesting about mirrors is that the silvering is on the back of the mirror, not the front, so what we’re cleaning is the glass and not the shiny stuff.
They can be used for invocation, a fact I find actually somewhat creepy.
I have a full-length one on the back of my bedroom door for use when sewing and getting ready for work. The rest of the time, since the door stands open, it faces my filing cabinet and not anybody in the apartment. I don’t like seeing mirrors when I’m relaxing, they call to my eye and distract me. :)
February 11th, 2010 at 12:23 pm · Link
I’m not a big mirror fan. I’m just not very appearance-conscious, so I don’t use them much. I’ll check to see if my hair is crazy or if something is awry, but I’m not much of a preener. Munchkin, on the other hand, could turn into a regular Narcissus if we let her.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:57 pm · Link
Hi Shelley,
I’ve always been suspicious of mirrors! :) Great post.
Happy T13!
Here is my T13 if you’d like to peek.
Sassy
:)
February 11th, 2010 at 1:56 pm · Link
Totally cool list! My mom says to put a mirror in every room, no matter what the size, to add natural light.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:57 pm · Link
I like the mirrors that make you look skinnier… do they count?
February 11th, 2010 at 2:07 pm · Link
Anni – that’s a good one to add to my list.
Becca – it certainly is a lot cheaper and I much prefer the smell as well.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:10 pm · Link
Adelle – I hear you, but on the other hand most people are grateful that I glance in the mirror since my hair has been known to scare the bejeepers out of people!
February 11th, 2010 at 2:28 pm · Link
Very interesting!
February 11th, 2010 at 3:44 pm · Link
We used to have a lot of mirrors, not so many in the new house, unless you count the ones still packed away in the garage.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:03 pm · Link
I never really thought about it but I guess we really do use Mirrors all the time don’t we. We have them in the bathroom, in the car, and sometimes on the back of the bedroom door. I like them, I really like the infinity mirrors too.
February 11th, 2010 at 6:03 pm · Link
Cool post! Though I have to admit, as an erotica author, my first thought was, who was the first person to put a mirror on a ceiling?
February 11th, 2010 at 10:08 pm · Link
In the past I worked about 17 years for different glass companies so believe me, we don’t believe in bad luck by breaking a mirror. We did it every day.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:22 pm · Link
Mary – what are infinity mirrors?
Sasha – LOL – the thought did cross my mind
Linda – sort of an occupational hazard, huh?
February 16th, 2010 at 8:23 am · Link
Can you believe it took me this long to get a chance to boot my laptop? My desktop still can’t access your blog.
I wish I’d caught the program. I could use some pointers, since that’s the kind of house I tend to lean towards.