China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. This is a gorgeous artifact, a bronze mirror now with a perfectly smooth, black patina, and the reflective surface remaining. The back is finely decorated with a tiny, stylised marks, including a series of triangles that call to mind mountain ranges, a ring of Chinese characters (based on other known examples of Chinese mirrors, these probably are incantations or prayers), and a further interior ring with swirling designs that loosely resemble the animals of the horoscope, as if they are drawn by lines connecting stars. This mirror has a silvery sheen, produced by a high content of tin in the bronze alloy. The back is pierced for suspension through a rounded central knob, and we know that a cord would have been threaded through the hole to make it easier to hold or carry. A mirror of this size could be easily carried inside of a sleeve for easy use throughout the day. Analysis of a similar mirror from the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian found traces of silk imprinted upon the back of the mirror, leading researchers there to conclude that these mirrors would have been stored in silk pouches when not in use. Size: 5.1" W (13 cm)

Mirrors in ancient China served both practical and spiritual purposes. Bronze mirrors were also luxury goods that would have been expensive to produce and therefore to buy. When placed in a tomb upon the chest of the deceased, as they often were, they were meant to protect the dead from evil spirits, who were frightened of being seen in reflection. In a similarly symbolic move, women carried "marriage mirrors" on their laps during their wedding procession; these were later hung over the marriage bed to repel evil spirits.

Provenance: Ex - Private Chicago, IL collection

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#116027

Choice + with deep black patina but mirror side still reflective after over 1000 years!