China, Warring States period (475–221 BCE) / 300s BCE
Double-tier Mirror
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Double-tier Mirror as metalwork (China, Warring States period (475–221 BCE) · 300s BCE).
This luxury object consists of two different layers: a reflective disc with a central knob on the back, and a ring with openwork serpent designs.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this metalwork as bronze.
The museum's collection notes: The craft of mirror making prospered remarkably during the Warring States period, as bronzes increasingly served as luxury items for individuals. A variety of ornamentations appear on the backs of mirrors, some of which bear resemblance to those found in contemporary jades, lacquer wares, and textiles—all luxury items of the day. This tiny round mirror belongs to the rare double-cast type. It consists of two different layers: a reflective disc with a central knob at the back, and a ring with openwork designs of undulating serpents.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtDouble-tier MirrorOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.