COVE

Booth of Victorian Mirrors, creatd by Samantha Rizk, 2025. This booth was created by Samantha Rizk in April of 2025. It showcases images of multiple Victorian mirrors. The physical booth was made in Skidmore College’s Idealab by using a 3D laser printer. The image in the background is a photocopy of a hand colored lithograph, created in 1851 by Walter Goodall. It functions as part of my background for my physical wooden booth. Its title is Indian Court, and it displays some items from India that were being sold at the Great Exhibition. I decided to use this image because it provides an authentic scene which helped greatly when building my booth, as I made my booth the size of this image. After the background was glued onto the physical box, I printed out my images of mirrors. I then rearranged them in the background. I did this to help highlight my narrative arc, which includes the practicality and elegance of several Victorian mirrors. When adding the final touches to my box, I added in Victorian customers on the sides and wallpaper to include an elegant touch.

"Hanging Mirror and Bracket Table" 1851, Samuel B. Clark, in The Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, Class 26, “Furniture, Upholstery, Paper Hangings, Papier Maché, and Japanned Goods” (volume 2, section 3), p. 747. This hanging mirror was created by Samuel B. Clark. It contains many unique features as the mirror was in an "ornamented frame, the decorations consisting of birds, flowers, and shells" (747). Beneath the mirror are two tables, one a centre table and the other a work-table. The centre table is made from ebony, rosewood and buhl, while the work-table is made of English walnut. The mirror is "represented by the annexed cut, with the bracket-table below it" (747). Truly an exquisite piece!

"Dressing-case" 1851, Charles Asprey, in The Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, Class 26, “Furniture, Upholstery, Paper Hangings, Papier Maché, and Japanned Goods” (volume 2, section 3), p. 730, Plate 7, and pp. 791-92. All images in color were taken by Daniel Lucian. This dressing-case was created by Charles Asprey in the United Kingdom. The small mirror is made of mother of pearl and is included in a larger dressing-case set. There were many options for these mirrors to be stored in these cases, as this mirror was stored in "fitted sections on the underside of the lid" (791). 

"A Mantle-Piece, Ornamented with Mirrors" 1851, Pierre Nicolas Luce, in The Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations,“France and Algiers” (volume 3), Plate 25, p. 1240.  This piece was created by Pierre Nicholas Luce in Versailles, France. The quicksilvered mirror that was ornamented in this chimney mantlepiece serves two unique purposes. It can bear “intense heat without cracking” and “reflect the heat in the interior of an apartment in the same manner that they reflect light” (1240). The quicksilvered mirror not only functions properly within the mantelpiece to foster the function of the chimney, but also adds an elegant touch to the piece overall. As such, it’s able to sustain a fire fueled by wood, coal, and coke. This piece highlights the multiple capabilities that Victorian mirrors encompassed.