Mirror
14th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The first mirrors to be used in Japan were imported from Korea and China and it was not until the 4th century AD that the Japanese began to make their own, cast from bronze. The mirror faces were polished and, from the 11th century, made more reflective by applying a thin layer of tin. They were lifted and held by a cord which was passed through a hole in the raised boss, which often took the form of a tortoise, on the center back.
At first, Japanese mirrors were close copies of Chinese and Korean originals, but by the 11th century mirrors with distinctively Japanese designs were being made. This mirror is decorated with two small birds and pine trees by the sea-shore--frequently recurring motifs in Japanese art.
At first, Japanese mirrors were close copies of Chinese and Korean originals, but by the 11th century mirrors with distinctively Japanese designs were being made. This mirror is decorated with two small birds and pine trees by the sea-shore--frequently recurring motifs in Japanese art.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast bronze |
| Brief description | Rectangular mirror, cast bronze, pine trees by the sea shore and two small birds, Japanese, 14th century; Met, Japan, mirrors |
| Physical description | Rectangular mirror with decorations of pine trees by the sea shore and two small birds. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The first mirrors to be used in Japan were imported from Korea and China and it was not until the 4th century AD that the Japanese began to make their own, cast from bronze. The mirror faces were polished and, from the 11th century, made more reflective by applying a thin layer of tin. They were lifted and held by a cord which was passed through a hole in the raised boss, which often took the form of a tortoise, on the center back. At first, Japanese mirrors were close copies of Chinese and Korean originals, but by the 11th century mirrors with distinctively Japanese designs were being made. This mirror is decorated with two small birds and pine trees by the sea-shore--frequently recurring motifs in Japanese art. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.61-1928 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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