Mirror with sea battle scene from the War of 1812 1815

This mirror, with its painted sea battle scene, was made by an anonymous artist, likely shortly after the War of 1812. Its materials – wood, glass, paint and gilding – speak to a world of craft and commerce. Note the frame: its classical columns and gilded surface evoke luxury, but also a burgeoning industrial aesthetic of readily available ornament. The painting above the mirror is similarly revealing, with its naïve rendering of naval conflict, suggesting a print source and a painter more skilled in decorative work than history painting. Consider the glass, most likely blown and then silvered, a technology that was becoming increasingly affordable. The mirror offered not just reflection, but aspiration, allowing people to see themselves within a context of national pride and emerging consumer culture. This object occupies an interesting place between craft and design, fine art and vernacular expression. It shows how the desire for beauty and status could be met by the increasing availability of manufactured goods, forever changing the landscape of art and everyday life.