Sunburst, starburst mirrors make strong focal point
You must be living under a rock if you haven't seen the avalanche of starburst and sunburst mirrors in home decor stores, antique shops and magazines. Why, you may ask? Well, they are considered iconic in the design world, and offer a classic design that fits in with most styles of decor, from traditional to contemporary, and in between.
Since the court of Louis XVI in France, the sun and the stars have been the source of inspiration. It can be said that Louis XVI is considered the father of this style. Louis XVI was sometimes referred as the “sun king” due to his love of the sun and belief in the power of its rays.
These mirrors, whose design evolves around a round central mirror with spokes all around the perimeter, are called sunburst when finished in gold reminiscent of the sun, and starburst when finished in silver, but essentially either name can be used interchangeably.
Many historians believe the design of these mirrors is a result of repurposed crowns from icons and saintly statuary. Another telltale sign of their religious past is found in older starburst mirrors that may have a cloud, a dove or eye, over the rays. These starbursts were symbolic of God, a dramatic sample is found at the end of the nave at Saint Peter's in the Vatican. The starburst has a stained glass window at its center, which faces west. At sunset every day, the light streams, making the starburst almost seem three-dimensional. An extremely dramatic focal point.
During the 1940s, sunburst mirrors made their debut into the interior design world. Designers such as Gilbert Poillerat in France to Dorothy Draper in the U.S. helped popularize the mirror by incorporating them into their projects.
In recent history, starburst and sunburst mirrors were all the rage during the 1960s. Streamlined and futuristic, these mirrors were inspired by mid-century architecture, aeronautical ideas and visions of what the future would look like.
It's no surprise that this design icon is timeless and loved so much by interior designers and architects.
The mirrors pictured add radiance to the room, and their shape is so strong, that when placed above a console, couch or bed, these mirrors become the focal point.
Originally these mirrors were strategically placed to catch the light coming in from any window. Sometimes the mirrors are flat, but some are convex to maximize and reflect light. A fine example of this can be seen in the 15th century portrait of the Arnolfini family by Flemish painter Jan van Eyck.
Both sunburst and starburst mirrors are available in varied materials such as guilded wood, papier-mache, iron, bone, silver and brass. Finishes are generally shiny to reflect any light on them.
Today's sunburst mirrors have taken center stage in decoration. Many of these mirrors have been produced in an overscale size, as to even replace works of art. In cases where the mirrors are not so large, a grouping of mirrors can give a WOW and unexpected statement to a room.
• Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida.
© 2016, Creators Syndicate