June, 1921 
51 
For Colonial homes where early Ameri¬ 
can furniture predominates and space 
permits the Constitution mirror makes, 
with a chest, a charming hall group 
Mirror frames are of the greatest impor¬ 
tance and should be carefully considered in 
conjunction with the furnishing of a room. 
Fortunately we have a great variety to 
choose from, making it possible to secure 
one suitable for almost any decorative 
scheme. Not necessarily need the mirror 
conform to the period of the room furnish¬ 
ing. It would be absurd to say that a 
Colonial mirror should be used only with 
that type of room, for there are many other 
instances where it is most appropriate. This 
is especially true of the Constitution mirror 
which came into vogue just after the Revo¬ 
lution. This type is very popular for hall 
decoration and fits admirably into panels, 
but it needs underneath it a low piece of 
furniture such as a handsomely carved Ital¬ 
ian chest or possibly a period chair. As 
the frame is mahogany with gilt ornamen¬ 
tation, naturally a mirror such as this stands 
out most prominently against a plain wall 
surface, a figured paper detracting materially 
from its charm, for, like a painting, it de¬ 
pends upon the background to individualize it. 
The plain banded wooden frame of the first 
era of mirror use is seldom found now, for it 
lacks the ornamentation which is considered so 
necessary at the present time. It is also prac¬ 
tically impossible to procure a frame of glass, 
although crystal is often introduced into a 
A Colonial mirror with an etched glass panel above, 
hung over a late American Empire console table, 
comprises a combination that is reminiscent of the past 
wooden frame to give it sparkle and life. 
Brass, ebony, carved oak, olive and rosewood, 
all of which have been fashionable for frame 
design in the past, are still in use, the wooden 
ones being much more effective when gilt or 
painting in strong tones is employed. 
Chinese motifs, which are occasionally 
Plate glass mirrors set in a corner with¬ 
out frames above a draped and well 
appointed dressing table have both utili¬ 
tarian and esthetic advantages 
found, are generally confined to the Queen* 
Anne period, and are finished with dark 
backgrounds to bring out forcibly the vivid 
colors of the paintings. We may consider 
that we are introducing a new idea when 
we design frames with polychrome orna¬ 
mentation or when we finish them in color 
to harmonize with the color-note of a special 
room, but we have only to go back to old 
Italian pieces to realize that painted frames 
are not a modern innovation. Gilt and 
colored lacquer mirror frames were also 
popular in the Adam period. 
When mirrors first came into existence 
mirror glass was scarce, and this fact ac¬ 
counts for the divisions found in the early 
ones. Then, as glass became more plentiful, 
large sheets cut into various forms and de¬ 
signs were used, although the small ones 
still remained in favor. 
As frames grew larger and more orna¬ 
mental in finish, small-sized mirrors were 
much sought after, for space had to be 
taken into consideration. This style is very 
popular to-day and is used both in antiques 
and reproductions. Considerable variety is to 
be found in such mirrors, so they are avail¬ 
able for many situations. 
There is only one place in the hall where 
mirrors can be hung, and that is at one side 
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