Mirror – the most widespread and ordinary subject of use of the modern person. The small pocket mirror lies in each female handbag and a make-up bag. In houses of a mirror are used not only as a subject of care for appearance, but also as a part of an interior. But such mass distribution of a mirror was received not so long ago.
What used in the ancient time
For the person the main way of perception of information on the world around – visual. Ancient people looked at the reflection in water. In the Stone Age the people carefully otpolirovyvat obsidian pieces. Similar pieces were found at excavation in Turkey.
With development of a civilization the mankind began to use as mirrors metals – silver, copper or gold. The disks ground to gloss on the one hand were made of these metals. From a reverse side the disks got off with various jewelry. But metal mirrors possessed a big shortcoming – the image in them was muddy and indistinct.
Invention of the real mirror
The first glass mirror was invented in France. The Franciscan John Pekam in 1279 described a glass covering method a tin layer. Production of mirrors became on the following technology – in a glass vessel poured a thin layer in the melted tin. When the vessel cooled down, it was broken into pieces. Of course, concave pieces gave the distorted image, but it was accurate and clear. Handicraft work of mirrors for the first time began in Holland in the 13th century. Then mirrors began to make in Flanders and in the city of Nuremberg.
Development of mirror production
In 1407 Venice redeemed the patent for production of mirrors from Flemings. One and a half centuries Venice was a monopolist in the field of production of mirrors. The Venetian mirrors differed in high quality and the price. In reflecting structures the Venetian masters added gold and bronze. Reflection in such mirrors was more beautiful, than reality. Such mirrors cost very much, for the same sum it was possible to buy the small ship. The break in production of mirrors happened at the beginning of the 16th century. Masters from Murano could cut a hot glass vessel and roll on a copper table-top. Thus, the mirror cloth – brilliant and clean was received. Mirror sheets did not distort the image. As mirrors cost very much, the French decided to organize the production. In the 17th century the French could bribe masters from Murano. Masters and their family were secretly brought to France. Having adopted secrets of production of mirrors, in 1665 the French opened the first mirror manufactory. After opening of a manufactory the price of a mirror cloth fell and became available to most of the population.
Where today mirrors are used
Now mirrors are used not only care for appearance. Finishing of an interior mirror cloths became widespread. Also mirrors are used in lighting, scientific and optical fixtures.