Mirror
Unknown Artist
25–220 CE
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
diam. 13.1 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
Accession Number
1915.606
About this artwork
Two of the same animals of the Four Directions seen in the "TLV" mirror are cast in high relief and twisted in confrontation: the Dragon of the East with long snout, pointed horn, and scaly backbone meets the Tiger of the West with feline head and striped neck. An amphibious creature of unknown symbolism swims between their tails. The circle between their heads duplicates the form of a copper coin, minted during the Han dynasty, that was strung through its square perforation. The encircling insc...