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Petite Ming Bronze Mirror with Ingot Knob, c. 1400
$680
£514.24
€589.04
CA$952.84
A$1,040.18
CHF 547.67
MX$12,460.20
NOK 7,004.50
SEK 6,395.22
DKK 4,400.23
About the Item
Cloaked in rich patina and verdigris oxidization, this petite Chinese bronze mirror has the simple beauty and undeniable texture of an ancient object. Though an exact date is unknown, the mirror's round form, double ring edge and unadorned surface suggest an early Ming dynasty dating (1368-1644). Like the jade bi disc, the circular form of early bronze mirrors is closely associated with the sun, the moon and the spiritual realm.
Simple and modest, the back of the small mirror is decorated only by a raised circular ring and the perforated knob used to string a silk tassel or cord. The knob is flared at either end in the shape of a silver ingot, a motif to beckon wealth and prosperity. Left flat, the opposite side of the mirror would have been highly polished and coated with mercury or silver for a bright, reflective surface.
_ _ _ _ _
Before the broadened popularity of polished metal mirrors, many could only view their reflection by filling a basin with still water. With advancements in metalworking during the Warring States period (475 BC - 221 BC), cast bronze mirrors emerged in ancient China as daily tools reserved for the aristocratic class.
Besides their functional purpose, early mirrors were closely associated with the sun and moon and therefore imbued with special cosmological and spiritual meaning. Objects of art made from valuable material, such mirrors were commonly bestowed as gifts or dowry offerings and passed down within families as cherished heirlooms.
Additional Dimensions:
Diameter of Mirror: 3.5"
Base: 3"W x 2"D
- Dimensions:Height: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Width: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
- Style:Ming (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Bronze,Cast
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:c. 1400
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: YUN0004J1stDibs: LU820048009122
About the Seller
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Chicago, IL
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