Once the essential vanity topper, hand mirrors have become almost obsolete—quaint relics to prop on a dresser or cluster on a wall. But for those who like to sit and reflect à la fairy-tale stepmothers and mermaids, hand mirrors are starting to make a comeback in a sleek new guise. These eight are perfect for start-of-the year self scrutiny.
Above: New York design studio Good Thing makes its Utility Mirror by polishing stainless steel to a mirror sheen and dipping it in industrial rubber for a colorful grip. Available in five colors, they're $50 each.
Above: The Reflection Hand Mirror is rimmed in matte black metal and has a sheesham wood handle; $19.95 from CB2.
Above: The freestanding Maru Hand Mirror by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio of Seattle is backed in brass and mounted on a handle made of brass (shown), copper, or aluminum with a wood core. It's 14 inches tall and available for $325 in the materials shown from A+R Store.
Above: Berlin multimedia artist Sarah Illenger's Ping Pong mirror is made of wood and acrylic glass; €120 ($144.82).
Above: Another standing design, the BoConcept Hand Mirror has a maple handle and is 13 1/2 inches tall; $29 from BoConcept.
Above: A clean-lined classic, Brook Farm General Store's 9.5-inch-tall Hand Mirror is made in Germany of waxed beechwood; $35.
Above: The aluminum Mirror Mirror by Danish design studio Hay is $82 from Finnish Design Shop. It's also available in a round version in copper for $82. And Mjolk in Toronto offers the circular Mirror Mirror in brass for $85 CAD ($72.41 USD).
Above: Ideal atop a bureau or dresser, the Vanity Tray by London designers Brose-Fogale, £120 ($186.55), comes in three color combinations; Fluoro Yellow/Copper is shown here. Brose-Fogale offers a similar Hand Mirror in oak; £35 ($54.43).
For more shining inspiration, take a look at:
- 10 Favorites: Multi-Mirrored Baths
- Subtle Shine: Handmade Mirrors by Maureen Fullam
- DIY: A Mirrored Bath by Tulip Designs
- 5 Favorites: House Plants Paired with Mirrors
- Casamidy's Fairest Mirrors of Them All
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