Nearly 2 centuries ago in one of pyramids of Egypt the archeologists found a strange metal disk. On it there were no hieroglyphs, but there was a solid layer of rust. The disk was fixed on a heavy figurine in the form of the young woman. Argued on purpose of a disk long. Some scientists claimed that it is kitchen utensils like a modern frying pan, others were sure that such disks were used as a fan. However it turned out that the rusty metal circle is a mirror.
How did do mirrors in the ancient time?
Mirrors in Ancient Egypt did of bronze. They gave the indistinct and dim image, and because of high humidity quickly darkened and lost the reflecting properties. There were centuries, and in Europe began to do silver mirrors. Reflection in them was rather distinct, but the main enemy of such mirrors there was time. Silver grew dull, but also, cost very much. In Russia in houses of rich people there were damask mirrors made of steel. However they quickly lost initial gloss, grew turbid and became covered by a reddish raid – rust. Then people did not know yet that it is possible to prevent damage of the reflecting surface rather simply: to protect it from influence of moisture and air.
Thin and transparent material was necessary. For example, glass. But no Egyptians, not Romans, Slavs were able to do transparent glass sheets. Only muransky masters managed it. Venetians could optimize process and comprehend the mysteries of production of transparent glass. There was it the XII beginning of the 13th century at the end. By the way, exactly workers from the island of Murano thought up as to turn the blown glass sphere into a flat leaf. However it was not possible to connect the metal surface given a high polish and glass in any way. Cold they did not stick together densely, and in hot glass steadily burst.
It was necessary to apply a thin metal film on the thick sheet of glass. And at last the technology was developed. Put the sheet of tin on a smooth marble pedestal and watered it with mercury. Tin in mercury was dissolved, and after cooling the film thickness about tissue paper which received the name amalgam turned out. From above put glass on it. Amalgam stuck. The first mirror more or less similar to modern was so made. Venetians kept several centuries a secret of manufacturing techniques of mirrors. Governors of the European countries, and then rich men and the nobility were ready to give the most part of the state if only to buy a mirror.
Once the Venetian republic presented a mirror to the French queen Maria Medici. It was the most expensive gift from all, received on the occasion of a wedding. The size of a mirror was no more book. It was estimated at 150,000 francs.
The tiny pocket mirror began to carry at itself fashionable at court of most the European states. The French minister Colbert did not sleep at the nights, understanding that the French money literally departures to Venice and will never return. And then he swore to open a secret of the Venetian master-zerkalshchikov. The ambassador of France went to Venice and bribed three Venetians owning a secret of production of mirrors. One dark autumn night by the boat from the island of Murano several masters ran away. France hid them so well that spies did not manage to find them. Several years later in Norman forests the first French plant of mirror glass opened. Venetians stopped being monopolists. The mirror began to cost much less. Not only noblemen, but also merchants, and prosperous handicraftsmen were able to afford to buy it quite. Rich men already also did not know where still to attach the next bought mirror.
The reflecting glass leaf fixed on beds, cases, tables and chairs. Tiny pieces of mirrors even sewed in ball dresses.
In Spain there was a mirror torture. The person was put to the room with mirror walls, a mirror ceiling and a floor. In the room from all situation there was only always a burning lamp. And from all directions the person saw only the reflection. In several days the captive of the mirror room just went crazy. However even the best masters could not make a mirror of the big size. And the quality left much to be desired. The glass leaf was uneven, and therefore reflection was distorted.
Evolution of manufacturing techniques of mirrors
The French after all managed to make big mirrors. On wide and long iron tables with boards limiters they poured out the melted glass, then rolled it with the shaft made of cast iron. But glass remained all the same uneven. And then on this leaf filled sand, and from above put one more glass and began to displace sheets relatively each other. Work was monotonous, tiresome and laborious. For creation of a mirror, small by the size, two masters were engaged in grinding about 30 hours. However after grains of sand, glass became opaque because of a huge number of microscopic scratches. Polished glass with the small plate upholstered with felt. For this work left till 70 o'clock. After a while cars began to do all work. On a round table poured plaster. By means of the crane from above put glass sheets. Then the table was driven under disks grinding, and then and polishing, the machine which quickly rotated. Subsequently instead of tin began to apply mercury on a glass surface. However all types and compositions of amalgam known to mankind gave too pale reflection, and at production of the master constantly dealt with harmful vapors of mercury. Refused this technology about 150 years ago. On a glass leaf began to apply very thin film of silver. That not to damage it, from above the surface was coated. Such mirrors of reflection were almost not of a lower quality modern, but were expensive. Now in the vacuum unit on glass napylyat not silver, but aluminum. On 1 square meter no more than 1 gram of metal leave, and therefore mirrors are cheap and public.