Artwork Page for Lobed Mirror with a Tortoise Knob, Musician, and Phoenix

Details / Information for Lobed Mirror with a Tortoise Knob, Musician, and Phoenix

Lobed Mirror with a Tortoise Knob, Musician, and Phoenix

真子飛霜葵花鏡

late 700s

China, Tang dynasty

(618-907)
Medium
bronze
Measurements
Diameter: 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.); Overall: 1.2 cm (1/2 in.); Rim: 0.6 cm (1/4 in.)
Weight: 1.394 kg (3.07 lbs.)
Credit Line
Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1995.369
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The imagery of this mirror includes a tiny turtle knob accompanied by a musician and phoenix.

Description

The inscription on this mirror states it was one of a pair made of metals from the south, and placed in a jade box, perhaps alluding to a wedding gift. The meaning of its design is not entirely known, but may refer to the Daoist immortal Hou Jin, who played the qin (stringed instrument), understood the language of birds, and could make predictions based on the reflections on water. The motifs of the phoenix, the pond, and the qin may all refer to the quest for immortality.

Lobed Mirror with a Tortoise Knob, Musician, and Phoenix

late 700s

China, Tang dynasty (618-907)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Shop the CMA Store

    Shop More Art

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.