Rustic wooden barber's mirrors, once a familiar sight in India's vibrant street markets.
A friend of ours in Jodhpur gathers old everyday wooden items that are no longer in use and from time to time we're able to buy from him. Modern plastic & glass mirrors are replacing these delightful old teak street barbers' mirrors with their small cupboards & shelves but we love them - each one is unique. Small shelves, a tiny opening cupboard for the razors & creams and a towel rail. And an elegant outline and a decorative flourish. A perfect Indian fusion of the prosaic and the beautiful.
A typical scene in India - someone getting a shave beneath an underpass, down a quiet lane, the centre of a busy roundabout or by any busy road junction. If the traffic's gridlocked, what better? Get out the car and have a quick shave. But the traditional teak mirror's been replaced with a plastic frame, there's nothing traditional in this scene - apart from the chair and the technique. (Image downloaded from the internet).
A visit to a street barber is a must in India - for a man! Hot cloths, oils, a cut throat razor against your neck - what's not to like. Nervous? Have no fear, since Covid you'll inevitably get a new blade. And the smallest dot of shaving cream imaginable worked up into a furious lather - I'm always amazed how they do that. And a chance to get slapped around the head with a head massage hat leaves you refreshed but in no state to reckon whether it's a good haircut or not.
This beautiful example with a luxuriuously large cupboard is held together with little brass brackets and numerous small little nails, something like our panel pins and an India speciality!
This beautiful example with a luxuriuously large cupboard is held together with little brass brackets and numerous small little nails, something like our panel pins and an India speciality!
These mirrors come from Rajasthan and one motif that finds it's way into textiles, stonework, paintings and wooden furniture throughout Rajasthan is the parrot, Alexandrene parrots to be precise. They are symbols of love and fidelity. And here is a parrot motif incorporated into the sides of a shaving mirror. Also, spot the floral mofif carved into the top of the frame.
All these are for sale - until someone's bought them, they're very popular! You can check out some more and see all our mirrors in the https://silkroadgallery.co.uk/collections/furniture-and-mirrors collection.