Mirror with Interlacing Floral Motifs and Twelve Zodiac Animals
Unknown Artist
late 500s–early 600s
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
h. 1.4 cm · diam. 15.4 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee
Accession Number
1995.336
About this artwork
The design of this mirror consists of a central knob and a series of concentric circular bands. The innermost band contains an eight-word inscription, with phrasing typical of earlier mirrors found in the Sui and early Tang periods: The mirror's light shows the man inside. May you live a long life and [constantly] renew yourself. Floral branches interlace in the second band. The controlled undulation produces five segments. The third band is divided into twelve parts, which house the zodiac anim...