Collection record · Everyday wonders
Mirror
The collection record classifies this work as metalwork. It is dated 918–1392. Recorded culture or place: Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392).
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Mirror
- Date
- 918–1392
- Culture / origin
- Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
- Materials and technique
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 8.2 cm (3 1/4 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1917.680
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
From ancient times, a mirror assumed various roles: a ritualistic tool, a diplomatic gift, and a luxury commodity. During the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), which saw the great advancement of metallurgy, the royal court was the center of distributing sophisticated bronze artifacts. According to historical records, on the seventhth day of the Lunar New Year, the king bestowed a bronze mirror inscribed with auspicious symbols upon each court official as part of a ceremony to celebrate the Day of Humans. This explains why a large quantity of bronze mirrors were buried in elite tombs.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of D. Z. Norton · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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