Glass mirrors - a story started in Romania

In the period July 7 - August 3  will take place at Sinaia exhibition of glass mirrors Mirrors are made of the artist Cristian Florin Anghelescu. I must admit that this news intrigued me and made me curious at the same time. At first it seemed to me to be a pleonastic expression - isn't the mirror all glass? So I wanted to find out what it was all about and what I discovered far exceeded expectations. It's a combination of art, beauty, passion, Tiffany, colored glass, stained glass, stained glass, mirrors, Art Nouveauwooden frames that complete and complete the work, about which I must tell you more.

What are glass mirrors.

From the outset I must tell you that this is a unique product in Europe. It was Cristian Florin Anghelescu who first thought of putting the mirror, the stained glass and the frame together. It all started from the desire to beautify with the help of glass, color and light the environment that we like to call it "home".

Stained-glass mirrors go beyond the status of a useful object and into the realm of art. The mirror, the stained glass and the wooden frame form a whole that aims to bring light, color and elegance into the home of lovers of beauty.

At first the stained-glass window was conceived as a paspartu between mirror and wooden frame. Gradually, the strict frame was replaced by colorful floral designs that discreetly enter the mirror without altering its original purpose. The mirror remains an object of utility while also becoming an object of art.

You can preview part of it on https://www.holz-art.ro/ or more on https://www.casuta-cu-vitralii.com/oglinzi/ ,with the caveat that photos will never be able to capture the dynamism of the mirror.

Start

It all started almost 12 years ago when Cristian, an engineer by trade and currently working in a totally different field, thought of embellishing his home with stained glass windows on the front door. He wanted to do it himself and started researching.

He discovered a fascinating world that totally captivated him. After studying several ways of making stained glass, he stopped at Tiffany. It was Louis Confort Tiffany (1878-1933) who used mass-colored glass and patented the use of copper foil in the assembly process. He began to make stained glass using this method, painstakingly grinding each piece of colored glass and assembling it into increasingly elaborate designs.

Now this passion has become his profession and he proudly calls himself a "luxury glazier". The name also hides a subtle irony that there is no such thing as a stained-glass maker. It's a subject not studied at any art, architecture or interior design college. But it's a fact he hopes to change in time.

Mirror release

More than 100 years ago, the mirror was in pride of place, adorning palaces and homes. It was treated with honor and adorned, adding charm to drawing rooms, reflecting balls and glamorous gatherings.

Over time, however, it lost its frame and decorations and became only a useful object. It was meant to reflect the person or enlarge the space, nothing more. The mirror retreats into the bathroom, fixed to the wall in four corners, or it ends up in the bedroom, double-stapled to the wardrobe door.

With the glass mirrors Cristian, together with friend and partner Mircea Ursu from Holzart, have started the process of "amnesty" for the mirror and restoring it to its former place. The mirror has regained its role as a piece of furniture with wooden frames carefully chosen and crafted in the workshops at Holzart.

The addition of stained glass transforms the mirror into a work of art. The Art Nouveau movement inspired the collection, hence the name Glass Nouveauas it was first presented to the public. It's the period when industrially crafted beauty appeared to be accessible to as many people as possible. Cristian believes it is time for beauty and elegance to make a comeback after so many minimalist and decadent periods.

The branch of wood that perfects

Just like a painting, a glazed mirror needs a finishing touch and this is achieved with a frame. Frames are the support that offer protection and enhance the visual appeal of the paintings, mirrors and photographs they frame. A well-chosen frame will set the mirror apart from the rest of the space, but will also complement it and draw special attention to it.

The choice of the frames is made in such a way that they match chromatically and aesthetically with the work. This is where the Holzart-Cassette with Stained Glass relationship shows its respect for the product and for the customer: old and refurbished or new frames, all will make the wood-glass-glass relationship result in a piece of furniture that you will want "at home".

This mirror - glass - wooden frame combination is the top of the range in the field. Glazed mirrors are pieces of art, certified by the exhibitions they have been part of, pieces of furniture due to their functionality and aesthetics, and Tiffany stained glass at the same time.

Sinaia exhibition

The exhibition of stained-glass mirrors that will take place in Sinaia is not the first edition. The first was in April 2017 and was held at Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilization in Deva. It was the moment when, a little more than 2 years after discovering the stained glass mirror, Cristian Florin Anghelescu was recognized as an artist in the field. The exhibition was highly appreciated by both artists and visitors. It was also confirmed as the first and only exhibition of its kind in Europe.

Also in 2017, in August, the exhibition was hosted by Bethlen Salon at Corvin Castle, Hunedoara. It was another moment of recognition, the museum's visitors, very numerous at the time, being enchanted by the elegance of the mirrors and the play of light with colored glass.

The Sinaia the exhibition will take place both at Casino and Carmen Silva Cultural Centre during July 7 - August 3. They are elegant spaces very appropriate for what the glass mirror represents. You are welcome in both places to feast your eyes and soul with light, color, elegance and good taste.