Mirror, Framed with Wall Paper Panels, Bordered in Tin c. 1938

Curator: This intriguing mixed-media drawing, “Mirror, Framed with Wall Paper Panels, Bordered in Tin,” dates from around 1938, and is attributed to Majel G. Claflin. The composition depicts, as the title suggests, a design for a framed mirror. What are your first thoughts on this? Editor: It has an unexpected charm, almost homely. The combination of floral wallpaper patterns with what seems to be tin gives it a handcrafted, almost folk-art feel. There's a warmth and nostalgia present in it. Curator: Yes, I agree. This design reflects a trend within the Art Deco period for incorporating handcrafted elements and democratizing design, pushing back against purely industrial aesthetics. The use of wallpaper is interesting; a humble, domestic material elevated within a design object. Editor: Absolutely. Floral patterns are so often tied to ideas of domesticity, femininity, and even a certain kitsch sensibility. Framing a mirror with such patterns can evoke a feeling of personal identity intertwined with one’s immediate environment. The mirror becomes more than a reflector; it's a statement about one's sense of self. Curator: It is a striking visual shorthand for that era’s anxieties about personal space and expression within a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape. The rise of consumer culture allowed more people to define themselves through decorative objects. Do you see a specific narrative being implied through this arrangement? Editor: I do. The contrasting textures—the soft, repetitive wallpaper against the seemingly hard, almost industrial tin—create an interesting tension. It symbolizes a longing for the handmade amidst the encroaching mass-produced world, an idea very central to 1930s America during the depression era. The mirror as reflection encourages you to ponder the nature of the interior self meeting exterior demands of society. Curator: I agree, the mirroring creates not just a visual doubling but invites deeper introspection about one’s status in society. Thank you. Editor: It’s been a pleasure to explore the meanings embedded within this image. I shall now remember its patterns.