Verre Eglemoise Gold leaf mirrors
An opening night to remember
Gold leaf mirror with marble drapery
The team at Mucho approach Steady Studio to design and produce a continuous mirror mural that wraps the interior of the venue. Drawing on the idea of a “psychedelic theatre”referencing early 20th-century European theatres, the inspiration included rich drapery and the exaggerated characters that once occupied those stages.
The project centres on a bold red marbled curtain that encircles the space with traditional verre eglemoise gilded mirror sections, acting as both an decorative element and a functional mirror.
Executed entirely by hand, the painted and gilded glass balances traditional sign painting and gilding techniques with a contemporary, surreal sensibility which is completely emmersive.
Faux marble painting on glass has a rich history in decorative arts, emerging in the 17th and 18th centuries to mimic the look of expensive stone. With this project, the technique is being reinterpreted in a contemporary way, using one large bold gesture on each panel and the combination of unexpected complimentary of green and red to give off a vibration of colour harmony.
The impressive mirror mural at Herbs is the wild work of Steady Studio, a traditional sign painting studio founded by Lance Corlett, right here in Sydney. One of the core tenets of the early Herbs identity was the idea of bringing a ‘psychedelic theatre’ to life under Clarence St. Red velvet curtains draped high and low theatres throughout Europe at the turn of the 20th century, and the people on those stages were the direct reflection of humanity’s best, and silliest characters.
Alex Dowdey, Co Owner
