Featured Help With Old Advertising Mirror Please

Hi all, I picked up this mirror recently and wondering if anyone can tell me what material was used to do the lettering. What ever it is it was made to look like mother of pearl and gold foil.

The lettering and black background are on the back of the glass. I have not opened up the back because I am afraid of disturbing the lettering. It measures 13-1/2" x 19-1/2" with the frame.

Sorry, the first photo is a little fuzzy

Thank you for any ideas of what the material is, I tried Googling but got nothing useful.

 

Woonsocket...Rhode Island?

Can't have been too many clothiers there, then...or can there?

There are many Rocheleau in RI, past & present...but I didn't see a J.A.

 

You would think not, but Google didn’t find them!

 

Joseph C. according to the internet. Some family info here.

https://www.google.com/books/editio...ket+clothier&pg=PA266-IA3&printsec=frontcover

Debora

 

YAAAY- Finally Vintage Advertising,retired graphic designer heart sings !

 

Thank you Debora for finding that information

Anyone have any ideas how to describe the lettering's material?

 

@Marie Forjan
My grandparents had an unusual large 1930s framed piece depicting an elk in silhouette - the background was highlighted in the same manner as your lettering & turned out to be tinted aluminum foil. That is what I’m seeing here as well (looking at the bottom of your last image, the closeup of lettering shows the foil sheeting clearly just at the top of mirror).

I think the black is perhaps painted on the glass & the foil is laid behind to create this effect. Really great piece.

 

MOP Mother of Pearl possibly, like this one: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/wonderful-antique-clarnico-407592944

 

I see a mix of both !

 

Thank you both very much. It looks like foil with MOP but I was wondering how the MOP was done, if that is what it is.

I may have to open the back to see if it looks thin like only foil or there are thicker areas that may be MOP.

 

MOP used for inlay can be sanded quite thin and flat......... just sayin

 

Great find Marie-I really don't see this kind of antique advertising in fleas/shops much anymore.

 

MOP was my first thought of what it looked like, but I also wasn't sure...... but regardless, unusual and very NICE!!!

 

The translucent lettering might be celluloid that's had a rough time. I agree with aluminum foil on the back. Images made the same way were made into kits and sold to make decoration for your home back in the 30s.

 

That lettering is so cool. Nice piece!

 

Thank you everyone

 

Marie-Be very,very careful removing the backing from yr Advert Mirror.In reverse glass painting the the decorative surface can have become be firmly adhered to the glass surface and the foil/mop,etc can tear.

 

I think I might have found your man:
Joseph Claver Rocheleau was born on December 14, 1851, in Mont-St-Grégoire, Quebec, Canada, his father, Louis, was 34 and his mother, Marie, was 31. He married Josephine C. Tougas on May 10, 1880, in Worcester, Massachusetts. They had 12 children in 21 years. He died on August 14, 1920, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, at the age of 68, and was buried in Worcester, Massachusetts.

1851
Birth
14 Dec 1851 • Mont-St-Gregoire, Le Haut-Richelieu, Quebec

1888
37
Occupation
1888 • 423 Park Ave, Worcester, MA
Partner in Petit, Rocheleau & Co.

1894
42
Birth of daughter Delisca J C Rocheleau(1894–1997)
8 Aug 1894 • Rhode Island

1906
Age 55
Occupation
1906 • Woonsocket, RI
owner of J.C. Rocheleau & Co., clothing, Main Street corner of Court

1920
68
Death
14 Aug 1920 • Woonsocket, RI

 

I also agree about opening the back. Best to not do it.

Debora

 

Here's a page from a 1910 Woonsocket directory:
https://books.google.com/books?id=9...onepage&q="j. c. rocheleau" clothiers&f=false