The Evolution Of Mirror Manufacture

Until the late middle ages in Europe, all mirrors were hand held convex discs of polished metal - either bronze, tin or silver. During the 16th Century, artisans from Venice developed a method of backing a plate of flat glass with an amalgam of tin and mercury in a very thin sheet. These mirrors were so superior to previous mirrors, an industry quickly developed to handle the widespread demand. This article takes a look at methods of mirror manufacture, from polished metal to silver sputtering on glass.