Bronze mirror with dragon and phoenix design

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Manager ID

281

Title

Bronze mirror with dragon and phoenix design, from Kingdom of WuEarly Six Dynasties (mid 3rd century)

Short title

Bronze mirror with dragon and phoenix design

Record number

BATEA : 272

Simple name

mirror

Classified name

metal; bronze; mirror; Six Dynasties; animal; bird; dragon; phoenix; Kingdom of Wu; Buddhist; apsara; religion; China; mythical;

Description

Description part summary

A bronze mirror with a large flat boss cast in low relief with a thin outer band of dragons and flying spirit figures between line borders, the broad inner band bordered with semi-circles enclosing dragons, apsara with halo, phoenixes and tigers, the boss handle imposed on a quatrefoil pattern enclosing fabulous animals separating four pairs of phoenixes holding up a standard in the broad band. The inclusion of an apsara with a halo, a Buddhist motif, at this early period marks this as one of the earliest objects with Buddhist related decoration.

Description material

bronze

Description condition

good

Description Colour

Aspect	Colour

body	greenish grey
decoration

Description length

Description height

Description diameter

17.8 cm

Description width

Description depth

Description inscription

Description notes

Gallery location

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