Rajasthani Jharokha Mirror with Opening Doors – 20x16 Inches

What the surround is made of

Not paint alone. On two of the three colourways the whole surround is a lattice of small mirror pieces set by hand into the panel and outlined in gold — the same glass-inlay tradition as Lippan work, laid out in a diamond grid that runs edge to edge. Set one chip crooked and the grid shows it, which is why this is slow work. The third colourway, Timber Green, is painted instead: fine gold scrolling vine brushed across a deep green ground.

All three carry a raised gold beaded border around the perimeter and a second gold fillet inside it. Held at an angle in daylight the mirror chips fire one at a time as you move past. A printed panel cannot do that.

The three colourways

• Timber Green — deep green ground, fine gold scrolling vine, painted edge to edge
• Coffee Bean — dark brown ground with a dense mirror-chip lattice, gold outlining and scattered red florets
• Jungle Green — deep forest green with a gold and mirror-chip lattice

Where it goes

Entryways, above a console, at the end of a hallway — anywhere a single object is meant to be the thing you notice. Under a picture light or beside a lamp it earns its keep twice over, because the inlay needs a light source to do its work. Because it can be displayed closed, it also suits a room where a mirror facing the bed or the front door is unwanted for Vastu reasons: shut the doors and it is a panel.

Hanging it

A flat metal bracket is fitted to the back. At 2 kg, and with doors that swing, use a screw into a stud or a rated drywall anchor so it cannot shift when the shutters are opened. Screws and wall anchors are not supplied.

Care

Dust the surround and the pierced doors with a dry, soft brush — the cutouts and the inlay both collect dust, and a cloth will snag on the mirror edges. Glass cleaner on the centre mirror only, applied to the cloth rather than sprayed. Never spray liquid onto the inlay. Do not oil the hinges.