Circular Mirror with Decoration of Chinese Zodiac Animals and Auspicious Characters
12th-14th century
Description
A thin, well-defined, relief lip borders this circular mirror's decorated back. The decorative scheme is organized into five concentric rings with the crouching-beast-form boss at the center; a raised bowstring separates each register from the adjoining one. The outermost register features an auspicious inscription in stylized Chinese characters (i.e., stylized seal script characters). The next register boasts several human hunters holding bows and arrows and a variety of animals--from ferocious beasts to snakes, fish, and crabs, for example; the bowstring line that separates this register from the outermost register serves as the ground line for the animals and hunters. The next register sports the twelve emblems of the Chinese zodiac; the zodiac figures stand on the bowstring line that separates this register from the one with animals and hunters. The next register features the eight trigrams from the Yijing along with an auspicious inscription of eight characters; the Yijing trigrams alternate with the characters of the inscription. The innermost register-in reality, the circular medallion at the center of the mirror--depicts the four Chinese directional symbols arrayed around the central boss: the Green Dragon of the East, the Red Phoenix of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Intertwined Snake and Tortoise of the North. The reflecting face of the mirror is flat and undecorated. An even, celadon-green patina covers the mirror's decorated back; the same patina originally covered the reflecting face, though some of that patina has been crudely scraped away in modern times.
Dimensions
Diam. 17.8 cm (7 in.)
Provenance
[through ?, Korea, mid 1960s]; to Jerry Lee Musslewhite (mid 1960s-2009); to Estate of Jerry Lee Musslewhite (2009-2010), sold; to Harvard Art Museums, 2010. NOTE: Jerry Lee Musslewhite was an employee of the U.S. Department of Defense who worked in the Republic of Korea from 1965 to 1969.
Related Artworks
View MoreCast bronze inset with silver bosses, some bosses covered with gold
5th-3rd century BCEChineseBronze, one side with traces of gilding
1st century BCE-2nd century CERomanCast bronze
8th centuryChineseCast bronze
5th-3rd century BCEChineseCast bronze
5th-3rd century BCEChineseMirror: High tin bronze; Back of mirror: Mixed copper alloy
3rd century BCE-1st century CEHellenistic or Early RomanCast bronze
1st century CEChineseCast bronze with integrally cast inscription
3rd-1st century BCEChineseCopper alloy
4th century BCEGreekBronze
3rd century BCEEtruscanCast bronze
5th-3rd century BCEChineseCast bronze
8th centuryChinese