Information on the Chinese Bronze Mirror
Ancient people first used bronze mirrors in China during the Bronze Age, between 3000 and 1200 B.C. Archaeological findings of these bronze mirrors provide priceless insights into the lives and beliefs of early Asians.
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Making the Mirrors
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Bronze -- made through mixing copper, tin and some lead -- was smelted, or heated to a liquefied state, and poured into clay molds. With the front mold removed and the back mold intact, the artist etched designs and pictures into the heated clay. The bronze was polished with a mercury and tin powder mixture, reports the China Today website.
Uses
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These mirrors of course allowed a person to check his appearance, but the Chinese used them primary for magical purposes. Archaic, or Bronze Age, mirrors played a role in shamanism rituals, seen as transitional pieces that linked this world to the next. In later dynasties, the mirrors' use became practical and decorative.
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Designs and Symbolism
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Most bronze mirrors have a nub in the center that provided a means for wood or ivory stands to support the mirrors' weight. The backs of average, everyday mirrors featured geometric and simple artwork. More extravagant designs with dragons and other mythical creatures, paradise scenes and magical dedications were buried with the dead, WorldArtAndAntiques.com reports, to protect the owner from evil forces.
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References
- Photo Credit Detail of Chinese Dragon Sculpture Crafted of Bronze image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
