Bronze Mirror // Tang Dynasty, China // 618-907 CE

Large, cast bronze disc with overall relief decoration . Disk has a wide, central register containing four running animals with floral branches in between. Outer border with characters, center suspension lug. Both with areas of blue-green patina and intact.

Chinese mirrors typically have one smooth, plain face that was highly polished to a reflective surface. The other side was frequently embellished with lively decorative motifs. Both Han and Tang mirrors are considered to be the most technically advanced. A cord threaded through a hole in the central knob on the back made it easier to hold or carry. Large mirrors were often placed on a stand, and the smallest ones could be kept in the wide sleeve of a garment.

The Chinese magic mirror is an ancient art that can be traced back to the Chinese Han dynasty (206 BC – 24 AD). The mirrors were made out of solid bronze. The front is a shiny polished surface and could be used as a mirror, while the back has a design cast in the bronze. When bright sunlight or other bright light reflects onto the mirror, the mirror seems to become transparent. If that light is reflected from the mirror towards a wall, the pattern on the back of the mirror is then projected onto the wall.

They were used not only as functional artifacts, but also as sacred objects. It was believed that mirrors not only reflected light, but also had the ability to radiate it and thus illuminate the tomb for eternity. Often multiple mirrors were entombed close to the body of the deceased. They were also considered powerful talismans that would let you see into the spirit world.