silvered

Silvered is the past participle and adjective of silver, used to describe a surface that has been coated with a thin layer of metallic silver. It is commonly applied to materials such as glass to create a reflective surface, and can also describe objects or appearances that are coated in silver or appear silver-gray.

In optics and manufacturing, silvering refers to the process of depositing a reflective silver layer onto the back of glass to form a mirror. The traditional chemical method uses a solution of silver nitrate activated by ammonia (often with a reducing agent) to precipitate metallic silver onto the glass. This technique produced the familiar reflective backing behind early mirrors. In the 20th century, many commercial mirrors shifted to aluminum coatings for durability and cost, but silvered mirrors remain in use for certain optical, scientific, and decorative applications, where silver offers specific reflectivity properties or wavelength performance. Modern practices may combine silver deposition with protective layers, such as copper undercoats and lacquer or durable coatings, or use alternative deposition methods like chemical vapor deposition.

Beyond mirrors, silvering also describes surfaces that have been treated to achieve a silvery appearance, including silvered glass in architectural and decorative contexts. The term can also be used metaphorically or descriptively to indicate something turned gray or silver, such as hair that has turned silver.

Overall, silvered surfaces are characterized by a metallic silver backing or coating intended to produce or enhance reflectivity, durability, or aesthetic of the material.