China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. An amazing, heavy, and large bronze mirror, cast with an amazing relief design of animals and Chinese characters. A rounded knob in the center forms a handle, which is pierced through so that a cord could be attached to it. The animals around it are a wolf, a horse, a lion(?), and a dragon; they chase each other around the square motif surrounding the knob. The other side is a reflective surface, heavy polished and smoothed flat. Then there is a ring of Chinese characters. Around that ring is another ring of animals, these smaller, who appear to be the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The zodiac dates back at least to the 5th century BCE and by the Han Dynasty had become a popular way of making predictions for individuals' future. A mirror this fine would have belonged to the upper ranks of Han Chinese society. Size: 8" W (20.3 cm)

Bronze mirrors have a long history in China - the oldest known comes from a tomb dated to ca. 2100 to 1600 BCE. By the Han Dynasty, mirrors like this one were hugely popular, and were being produced in workshops at various regional centers in order to keep up with the demand from members of the royal court, court officials, and regional government workers. Mirrors like this one were expensive, and only owned by elites in the society. The cast inscription around the body of this one dates it to ca. 200 BCE and the Western Han period; it is meant to bring good fortune to the living and, when placed in a grave, to keep evil spirits away from the dead. A mirror like this one would have been used both for utilitarian purposes - starting fires and seeing one's reflection - and for spiritual - to see invisible spirits.

Provenance: Ex-Private Ventura County, CA collection

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#118312

Near choice with dark patina; polished surface remains reflective in places