Tin Mirror Frame c. 1936

Majel G. Claflin made this ‘Tin Mirror Frame’ using watercolour and graphite, the colour palette is reduced and simple, which suits the subject and makes it appear older than it probably is. I love the way Claflin has used repetition in the small details, like the tiny star shapes stamped on the frame. Each one is slightly different, giving the piece a handmade, folksy feel. It reminds me of the pleasure in simple, repetitive actions in my own studio. Look at the way the watercolour creates the illusion of texture, especially the scalloped edges around the main decoration and side pieces. It’s soft and gentle, but still precise. The frame is such an unusual shape. The main form is rectangular, like any regular mirror, but then the artist has added these 'S' shapes on either side, it makes me think of the kind of thing you might find in a fairground, or a fun house. This really elevates the piece and it becomes more than just a mirror, it becomes a playful object. It reminds me a little of the surrealist furniture designs by someone like Meret Oppenheim.