Mirror disk
Unknown Artist
5th–4th century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diameter: 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm) Height: 3/8 in. (1 cm)
Classification
Bronzes
Culture & Period
Greek, South Italian ? · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan P. Rosen, 1991
Accession Number
1991.171.48
Tags
About this artwork
This Mirror disk dating to 5th–4th century BCE exemplifies the artistic traditions of Greek, South Italian ?, Classical. Created in bronze, the work demonstrates technical mastery of materials and processes characteristic of Greek, South Italian ?, Classical artisans. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek and Roman Art, this piece contributes to our understanding of historical artistic production. The work's Diameter: 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm) Height: 3/8 in. (1 cm) and material qualitie...
Art Historical Context
This elegant bronze mirror disk, dating to the 5th–4th century BCE,ails from the Classical period of Greek culture, possibly produced in South Italy. Measuring just 4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm) in diameter and a mere 3/8 inch (1 cm) thick, it exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of ancient artisans who cast and polished bronze to create functional yet beautiful personal objects. Such mirrors were everyday essentials for grooming, their reflective surfaces achieved through meticulous polishing—a testament to the technical mastery of the era. In the vibrant world of Classical Greece and its colonies...