Bronze mirror decorated with paired phoenixes, late Tang dynasty, 9th century

Bronze mirror decorated with paired phoenixes, late Tang dynasty, 9th century

• Image Number: C1A000357N000000000PBA
• Dynasty: Tang dynasty
• Category: Bronzes
• Function: Household appliance
• Material: Mineral/Metal/Bronze
• Description:
  Round mirror, hemispherical button, round button holder. The back of the mirror is cast into a relative phoenix pattern with the effect of carving on the horizon. The phoenix has full wings and a luxurious body. The phoenix is filled with clouds, flowers and leaves. Tioding carving patterns can be seen in bronze mirrors in the late Tang Dynasty. The Shaanxi History Museum has a mirror with twin phoenix and peony patterns carved on the horizon. Similar mirrors were also unearthed in Dali, Yunnan. The visual sense of the carving is like paper-cut, which is different from the high relief method commonly seen in Tang mirrors. It may be the imitation of the gold and silver flat inlay effect popular in the Middle Tang Dynasty. The concave lining could have been filled with paint or other materials such as jade, shells, etc.