Double-tier Mirror

Description

The craft of mirror making prospered remarkably during the Warring States period, as bronzes increasingly served as luxury items for individuals. A variety of ornamentations appear on the backs of mirrors, some of which bear resemblance to those found in contemporary jades, lacquer wares, and textiles—all luxury items of the day. This tiny round mirror belongs to the rare double-cast type. It consists of two different layers: a reflective disc with a central knob at the back, and a ring with openwork designs of undulating serpents.

Provenance

Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter, Madison, WI, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?-1999); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, -present (1999-)

Double-tier Mirror

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300s BCE

Accession Number

1999.220

Medium

bronze

Dimensions

Diameter: 7.6 cm (3 in.); Overall: 0.8 cm (5/16 in.); Rim: 0.5 cm (3/16 in.)

Classification

Metalwork

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee