$8
Natural pools of water, lakes, and still fonts were the first mirrors. The earliest man-made mirrors were from polished stone and mirrors made form black volcanic glass obsidian. Some examples of this kind of mirrors have been found in Turkey dating back at least 6000 years. The Ancient Egyptians used polished copper to produce mirrors. Metal mirrors and mirrors made from polished stone were known in Central and South America from about 2000 BC. In China mirrors began to be made from metal alloys, a mixture
of tin and copper called speculum metal that could be
highly polished to made a reflective surface as well as
mirrors made of polished bronze. Metal alloys or precious
metals mirrors were very valuable items in ancient times
only affordable to the very wealthy.