I have some vintage ad mirrors. They’re oval, have a picture and a company’s info on the ‘outside’ and a mirror on the ‘inside’.
Some of them, though, are different in that the ‘outside’ has just a pretty picture and the ‘inside’ has weighted celluloid and has the advertising on that.
What are these other things called?
Thanks 🙂
While it’s true the woman on the front is of no relevance to the original question, I thought I’d share the information for anyone reading this. I have customers who collect Asti items and don’t care what the item is advertising. What’s important to them is the quality of the work on the lady and whether it matches one of the ones they have in their collections. We happen to have two original Asti paintings on planks, and we’re looking for the right venue to sell them.
Who the picture is is of no relevance to your question !! You asked what it is not who it is !! And truth is,, no one really cares !! Thats not the purpose of the ad !! I am sure when P.J. Brown chose this pic,, he didn`t know who it was !! Whoever made the paperweights would have had many to choose from !! Your selling point would be in its design !! The more unique the design,, the better !!
My first post says “Some of them, though, are different in that the ‘outside’ has just a pretty picture and the ‘inside’ has weighted celluloid and has the advertising on that.”
Have you ever searched for “advertising paperweights”?
This is why I’m hoping that there’s a colloquial term for them, so they can be meaningfully searched for with some modicum of success.
The pretty girls, by the way, are very often Asti girls. Angelo Asti was an Italian artist who painted a series of women that were used prolifically in the early 20th century in Europe and in the US. Some consider Asti to be the originator of the “Pin-up Girls”.
https://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2015/11/Angelo-Asti.html
I have some vintage ad mirrors. They’re oval, have a picture and a company’s info on the ‘outside’ and a mirror on the ‘inside’.
Perhaps you need to re-write your first post !! Since you did not provide pics or additional info I normally assumed a reflective surface,, a mirror !!
These were also paperweights which is what you have !! Now why PJ Brown decided to use this design I can only guess !! One would assume that the pic of a beautiful lady would appeal to the man of the house who normally would choose a contractor if one was needed !! Men of that day and age rarely used pocket mirrors !! The paperweight would sit on the desk and keep the name in his view !! All needed to do was to turn the paperweight over for his location and other information !! Quite an innovative idea for that time !!
Now understand that we are simply volunteers here and are not employees of this site !! We have been in the business for many years and simply try to help with answers or research !! If you thought you would get anyone from this site,,guess again !!
We only use what you provide and in many cases that is very little !!