Cleveland Museum of Art

Double-tier Mirror

Date

300s BCE

Medium

bronze

Culture

China, Warring States period (475–221 BCE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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. 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.

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