Mirror work is an embroidery technique that is particular to India. The technique, which may have come from Baluchistan (now in Pakistan), became popular in the 17th century during the Mughal period and is thought to have been developed by the wife of Shah Jahan.

Because the mirrors have no holes. they are secured to the fabric by threads which are worked around the mirror. Round mirrors are the most common although squares, triangles, and rectangles are also used.

(Left) A mirrored bag given to us by Cross Cultural Solutions. Below the bag are examples of two different stitches used to hold mirrors in place. First is an enlargement of the mirrored bag and below that is an enlargement of an embroidered piece I purchased in the bazaar in Jaipur. For a view of the entire embroidered piece, see the section on embroidery.

Additional Reading:
The Techniques of Indian Embroidery
by Anne Morrell
Interweave Press, 1995
ISBN 1-883010-08-X