Those fantastic classic vintage decorations Sunburst Mirrors were also called “Witch Mirrors”. In fact, people thought they had magic powers! They first appear in the middle ages, and are also called convex mirrors. We can see some in many old paintings, like the one from Quentin Metsys (1465-1530) “Le peseur d’or et sa femme” “The golden weigher and his wife” which is exposed at Le Louvre museum.

Place in front of a window, it spreads the light all over the room inside houses. We could find a lot of those in the Flemish houses and since then, it staid a tradition in North Europe, a classic vintage decoration. It also has the nickname of banker’s mirror because it was helping the bankers, the silversmiths or the usurers, to have a look at the all room at one glance. Sort of early video surveillance, our CCTV monitoring! We also could find some in the Bourgeois’ home: a little distrusting towards their domestics, or by simple precaution, they were having a few in their interior. This special glass, circular and convex with a frame always made of gilt carved wood, has in its centre a top, crowned by an important crest. This quirky mirror also represents an item of power: only the wealthy customers were able to afford such an expensive item!

It was also an object of fear, at that time where everybody believes in superstitions!

Some were thinking that while their master was missing, this “eye” was looking after them all the time. That’s why they were always in the middle of each room, to be seen by everyone entering the room.

Nowadays, they are really appreciated because they are spreading every light from the sun and the inside lights all over every room. An important thing to know with those mirrors, is to not put them in humid places, because of the wood, if it’s too humid the dilatation can lead to explosion!

They are really fabulous vintage decoration items, that will mixed perfectly with some industrial furniture. To create this perfect style, check our new arrivals at La Boutique Vintage.