Design for a Mirror 1841 - 1884

This design for a mirror was created by Charles Hindley and Sons, around the turn of the 20th century. During the Victorian era, there was a growing middle class with increased consumer power who adopted new standards of domesticity. As you can see, the symmetrical lines and ornate Rococo revival frame are meant to blend function and status. However, mirrors can be fraught objects, playing into the historical gendering of vanity. The idea of women and mirrors has been so charged. On the one hand, the mirror is a tool for social training in how to be feminine. On the other hand, it provides the opportunity for a woman to actively construct her own identity. What do you see when you look in the mirror? What does it mean to you?