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Double-tier Mirror
300s BCE
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
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.
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Details
- Title: Double-tier Mirror
- Date Created: 300s BCE
- Physical Dimensions: Diameter: 7.6 cm (3 in.); Overall: 0.8 cm (5/16 in.); Rim: 0.5 cm (3/16 in.)
- Provenance: Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter, Madison, WI, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, -present
- Type: Metalwork
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1999.220
- Medium: bronze
- Fun Fact: This luxury object consists of two different layers: a reflective disc with a central knob on the back, and a ring with openwork serpent designs.
- Department: Chinese Art
- Culture: China, Warring States period (475–221 BCE)
- Credit Line: Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee
- Collection: China - Zhou Dynasty
- Accession Number: 1999.220
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