Mirror Oscar B. Bach (stamped signature on applied tag). New York, New York. Probably 1920-1930. Copper alloy, probably bronze; tinned sheet iron. Height overall: 42 1/4"; Width overall: 25 3/4"; Height of glass: 32 3/4"; Width of glass: 19 1/2''. The arched frame has a stepped picture frame profile and is surmounted by an elaborate triangular pediment of pierced Gothic tracery framing a centered image of the Gemini Twins and two flanking 1" knob ornaments. Protruding side ornaments of griffins are flat castings with incised details of wings and mouths on obverse and reverse sides. A similar flat cast rococo scroll is attached to the bottom center of the frame. The sheet metal back is painted black and bears a tag with the signature Oscar B Bach. The Gemini twins of the Zodiac system and represented as constellations are Castor and Pollux, also known as the Dioscuri, the twin sons of Jupiter and Leda. Their names were given by sailors to St. Elmo's Fire, the ball of fire sometimes seen playing around the masts of ships in a storm. If only one flame was seen, the Romans called it Helen and said that the worst of the storm was yet to come. Two or more flames were called Castor and Pollux, and were thought to bode the end of the storm. By featuring the Gemini twins so prominently on this mirror, Bach has appropriately placed a reminder, or perhaps even a blessing, of tranquility and balance on any object that reflects one's self-image