Mirror Maker: Unknown

8th–7th century B.C.E.

Asian Art

On view, 2nd floor, Asian Art

The earliest Chinese mirror in the Gallery’s collection, this example features a standing hunter and six very stylized birds on the back. Though this imagery is derived from daily life, it may also have had a symbolic meaning; hunting provided food and thus was necessary for the health and stability of the community.

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

other: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
other (Loop): 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)

Credit Line

Hobart and Edward Small Moore Memorial Collection, Gift of Mrs. William H. Moore

Accession Number

1953.27.27

Geography

China

Culture

Chinese

Period

Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 B.C.E.)

Classification

Tools and Equipment

Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance
Edgar Gutmann, Berlin, 1931
Bibliography
  • Handbook of the Collections, exh. cat. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 1992), 285, ill
  • George J. Lee, Selected Far Eastern Art in the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1970), 8, no. 9, ill
  • Carl Hentze, Mythes et symboles lunaires: Chine ancienne, civilisations anciennes de l'Asie, peuples limitrophes du Pacifique (Anvers, Belgium: Editions "De Sikkel", 1932), pl. 3, A
Object copyright
No Copyright - United States
Additional information

Object/Work type

mirrors

Technical metadata and APIs

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