Mirror, 12th–13th century. Bronze, 9/16 x 6 11/16 in. (1.4 x 17 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 75.65.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 75.65.2_PS11.jpg)
Mirror, 12th–13th century. Bronze, 9/16 x 6 11/16 in. (1.4 x 17 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 75.65.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 75.65.2.jpg)
Mirror
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor
Bronze mirrors—highly polished on one side and decorated on the reverse—were a common luxury item throughout East Asia and appear to have originated in China early in the country’s development of bronze technology, around 1700 B.C.E. or earlier. Both examples of Goryeo-period mirrors shown here make reference to Chinese sources. One shows a sage and a man with an ox standing on either side of a tree. It appears to represent the ancient Chinese story of Ning Qi, who was recruited to be a government adviser despite being a lowly cattle driver. The other mirror copies a known Chinese design, but in reverse, including backward Chinese characters, suggesting that the carver of the mold did not take into account that the final image would be flipped when it was cast.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
12th–13th century
DYNASTY
Goryeo Dynasty
DIMENSIONS
9/16 x 6 11/16 in. (1.4 x 17 cm) (show scale)
INSCRIPTIONS
Korean reads: huang kuk chang chon
Chinese reads: huang ji chang tien
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
75.65.2
CREDIT LINE
Designated Purchase Fund
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor
CAPTION
Mirror, 12th–13th century. Bronze, 9/16 x 6 11/16 in. (1.4 x 17 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 75.65.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 75.65.2_PS11.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 75.65.2_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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