What exactly does gothic mean? That depends on what aspect you want to consider. Generally, gothic refers to the architectural style that started in Northern France and then spread throughout Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries. This style used slender columns and flying buttresses to help support high vaulted ceilings and pointed arches. The furniture of the period was heavy and large. With elaborate ornamentation in the carvings, the furniture imitated the detailed architectural themes. The artwork of the time was very linear and graceful centering on elegant, naturalistic themes. However, the term gothic in literature and art often refers to the darker side of the imagination. Gothic mirrors, consequently, can reflect any of these meanings.
Gothic mirrors are generally one of two types. Classic gothic mirrors will follow the more traditional meaning, while modern gothic mirrors will be designed around the literary idea of gothic.
Classic Gothic Mirrors
The traditional gothic mirror has frames that use the ornamentation that recreates the original 12th-16th century styles. Frames are elaborately carved with elegant, naturalistic motifs. Some are gilded while others are of heavy, dark wood to mimic that time period. When searching for the classic gothic mirror, you may often find them listed in categories entitled "traditional" as well as "classic" or "gothic".
Modern Gothic Mirrors
The modern gothic mirrors take their inspiration more from the dark side of the imagination. Frames will somewhat imitate the true original style, but they incorporate fantastical images rather than natural images. These may have dragons, bats, skulls, or symbols associated with pagan religions as their ornamentation. This type of gothic mirror is considered to be art deco, art nouveau, and arts and crafts gothic rather than the historical gothic.
Whether you prefer the classic gothic that adds that mysterious, sophisticated look or the modern almost eerie style that would provide a dungeon type atmosphere, you can find gothic mirrors to suit your taste. Gothic mirrors can be beautiful and/or bizarre, but they definitely add a different flare to your dˇcor.