Shisha Mirrors (Embroidery Mirrors) come in three different varieties, Antique, Perfect, and Rainbow. Here is a crash course
Antique Shisha--Aren't antique as in very old, say 100 or so years. Nope! They are antique in that the method for making them is 500 or 600 years old. And these mirrors are almost extinct. The glass cutters have abandoned their craft because they can make more money in the factories. When you are trying to support a family, the pride of craftsmanship may have to take second place.
The mirrors are made from hand blown glass. When the tube is blown, a metal solution is put into the tube. This is swished around and then the glass tube is broken open and the hot glass is flattened out. The mirrored glass is then sent to the glass cutters who use "nippers" to cut the mirrors out. They are paid by the Kilo for cut mirrors. You will notice that there are bubbles and inclusions in the glass, and the metal backing is uneven. The thickness of the glass is also much less than the machine rolled glass. These mirrors are absolutely washable, bleachable, boilable, dry cleanable. The color tends to be slightly blue.
What we call "Perfect" shisha are machine rolled glass and the backing is painted on just like the bathroom mirror. The mirrors are each hand cut with a special circular scribe. So the mirrors, "generally" have a perfectly round shape. A few oval shapes are left.
"Rainbow" Mirrors are also made from machine rolled glass that is hand scribed and are "generally" perfectly round. After the glass sheets are cooled, the glass is heated again and a chemical solution is fused to the surface of the glass. This chemical solution gives a finish that allows light to pass through the glass but reflects a variety of colors from pink to amber.
Prices for these mirrors range from 35 cents for a 10mm round to $1.30 for a 30mm Antique Round.
Cut craft mirrors come in square, triangle, and diamond and are not old, but they are hard to find.
| 10mm Round | 35 cents each | 10mm Square | 30 cents each |
| 19mm Round | 65 cents each | 19mm Square | 45 cents each |
| 25mm Round | 85 cents each | Triangle | 45 cents each |
| 30mm Round | $1.30 each | Diamond | 85 cents each |
Plastic Rings are covered with thread, by hand or by machine and hold the mirror in place.
| Small | 10 cents each | Covered Rings, White, Blue, Green, Red, Black | 30 cents each |
| Medium | 15 cents each | Beaded Covered Rings | 65 cents each |
| Large | 25 cents each | ||
Prices subject to change without notice.
TREADLEART, 25834 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717
310-534-5122 - e-mail treadleart@treadleart.com
1-877-570-8083 toll free FAX number.
| If your order is: | Then add: |
| $5.00 small order fee for orders under $20 | |
| $00.00 to $30.00 | $5.00 |
| $30.01 to $40.00 | $5.50 |
| $40.01 to $50.00 | $6.00 |
| $50.01 to $60.00 | $6.50 |
| $60.01 to $80.00 | $7.00 |
| $80.01 and up | $8.00 |