Two mirrors

These two mirrors belong to the Han and T'ang Dynasties, when burial of mirrors in high status tombs was popular as a way of protecting the dead from evil spirits.

Both mirrors are made of cast bronze, their reflecting side being silvered. Both have central knobs, pierced so that the mirrors could be suspended, and both are elaborately decorated on their back.

Mirrors were popular valuable possessions in China from around 1000 BC until around 1000 AD, mainly as magical and ritual objects, for divination and protecting against evil; it was only during the latter centuries that they were used just for grooming.

Record details

To search on related items, click any linked text below.

Online ID:	000-190-004-202-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1927.659
Date:	206 BC - 220 AD 618 - 906 AD Between 206 BC and 220 AD; Between 618 and 906 AD
Material:	Bronze. Inscription: [Chinese characters] Patinated bronze, silvered
Dimensions:	4.38" D 4.50" L
What:	Mirror Mirror
Subject:	Bronzes Bronzes
Who:
Where:	China China, P'enshan
Event:
Description:	Cast bronze mirror, with a central boss pierced for cord surrounded by figures and Chinese characters in bands, the reverse originally silvered: China, P'enshan, Han dynasty, 206 BC - 220 AD Mirror of silvered patinated bronze, with a central perforated boss in the form of a many-peaked mountain on the reverse: China, attributed to T'ang dynasty, 618 - 906 A
References:
Translations:
Related Records:

< 1332 of 1351 > Back