Cleveland Museum of Art
Lobed Mirror with a Tortoise Knob, Musician, and Phoenix
- Date
- late 700s
- Medium
- bronze
- Culture
- China, Tang dynasty (618-907)
- Department
- Chinese Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
The inscription on this mirror states it was one of a pair made of metals from the south, and placed in a jade box, perhaps alluding to a wedding gift. The meaning of its design is not entirely known, but may refer to the Daoist immortal Hou Jin, who played the qin (stringed instrument), understood the language of birds, and could make predictions based on the reflections on water. The motifs of the phoenix, the pond, and the qin may all refer to the quest for immortality. The imagery of this mirror includes a tiny turtle knob accompanied by a musician and phoenix.
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