Small Tin Framed Mirror c. 1937

This is Majel G. Claflin's "Small Tin Framed Mirror," likely made in the early 20th century, materials and processes used are industrial. Here, Claflin highlights the ingenious ways tinplate could be worked, not just for utilitarian objects, but also for decorative arts. Notice the stamped and embossed details – the scalloped edges, the radiating petals of the rosettes, and the stylized sunburst at the top. These elements speak to the ready availability of dies and presses, tools that could quickly transform humble sheets of metal into something much more elaborate. This mirror is thus deeply connected to its context. Born of mass production, it brings an element of handcrafted charm to an industrial material. In so doing, it asks us to reconsider the boundary between the handmade and the machine-made.