Bronze Mirror
bronze, 16.4cm diameter, Tang dynasty ε (618β907), China δΈε
cat# 140196
Cast with a symbol of the moon enclosing a cassia tree flanked by a rabbit and toad, above a pair of magpies carrying knotted tassels and a dragon, all separated from each other by wisps of clouds.
During the Han and Tang Dynasties Chinese women used silvered bronze mirrors. The front of the mirror was polished until a woman could see her reflection. The mirrors were held by a cord that ran through the knob on the back. The mirror was placed on a lacquer or bronze stand. Glass was not utilized for mirrors in China until the 20th century.