Venetian mirrors began in Murano, an Italian island in Venice. This tiny town held experts in glass blowing and hand etching glass during the Renaissance and has passed down that tradition over the centuries. Since these beautiful hand crafted mirrors were so exclusively made, only nobles and royals could afford them. Cheaper Venetian-style mirrors eventually became available, but they were still expensive and hard to find for most commoners.
Venetian mirrors developed their uniqueness by being the purest mirror for hundreds of years. The frames were also unique in their exquisite beveled glass that were adjusted with screws. Before long, Venetian mirrors held a monopoly on the mirror industry because their high quality could not be matched.
During the 19th century, Venetian glass makers would imbed gold leaf into the glass before it solidified. This added sparkle and a golden glow to the already intricate fluted and twisted borders. The edges usually also had as decoration roses, leaves, or ribbons. Often the border was done on a milky glass called lattimo, which had been perfected in Murano since the 16th century.
Since Venetian mirrors have such ornate glass frames, they were, and still are, used mostly as a decorative piece rather than a functional item. Venetian mirrors have always been valued for their clarity, lightweight, and color.
Today, if you want an authentically Venetian-made mirror rather than one that imitates the Venetian style, you can expect to pay a handsome price of $1300 to over $4000. Mirrors made in the Venetian style can be found at much more affordable prices, ranging from the mid-$200's to over $1000.
Venetian mirrors add elegance to any room. Their intricate beauty will become the main focal point and offer beautiful light to the space that surrounds it. With a long history of Venetian skill behind them, Venetian mirrors are an elegant piece of history.