Reflecting on the past

Human beings are acutely self-aware, so it is only natural that we should be interested in and able to recognise our own reflections. Mirrors are not just about vanity, however, they have myriad everyday, industrial and technological uses, too. Modern production methods have made mirrors cheap and they are so ubiquitous that we often pay little attention to them, seeing them as both functional items and common architectural elements. They can, though, also convey enormous symbolism and throughout history have carried the weight of many myths and legends.

All an illusion

The Romans were making glass mirrors as far back as 2,000 years ago, using reflective metals such as gold and silver to back small sheets of glass. But it was the Venetians who, in the 16th century, perfected a process of a mercury-based amalgam that adhered to the