Harvard Art Museums > 2010.436: Circular Mirror with Relief Decoration of Birds, Beasts, and Human Figures Mirrors Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Circular Mirror with Relief Decoration of Birds, Beasts, and Human Figures , 2010.436,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Dec 18, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/315424. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2010.436 Title Circular Mirror with Relief Decoration of Birds, Beasts, and Human Figures Classification Mirrors Work Type mirror Date 1st-2nd century Places Creation Place: East Asia, China Period Han dynasty, Eastern Han period, 25-220 CE Culture Chinese Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/315424 Physical Descriptions Medium Cast bronze Dimensions Diam. 15.8 cm (6 1/4 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History Edmund Lin (1928-2006; Professor, Harvard Medical School), Boston; by bequest to the Harvard Art Museum Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Edmund Chi Chien Lin Accession Year 2010 Object Number 2010.436 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description The high beveled rim on this circular mirror sinks downward into four bands of geometric bordering -- sawtooth, chevrons, sawtooth, and short straight radiating lines. Within the border of radiating lines is a circular ring with an inscription cast in thread relief that encircles the main decorative field. There are 6 pointed bosses spaced equidistantly around the center of the decorative field. Between the pointed bosses there is one bird, one beast, or a pair of human figures. A ring with two pairs of confronting dragons (or animals?) raised in relief encircle a large hemispherical boss at the center. There are some localized areas of patina on the reflecting side of the mirror. Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu