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Eight-foiled Mirror with Flower and Phoenix Design
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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 7th 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 excavated from elite tombs.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineEight-foiled Mirror with Flower and Phoenix Design (청동 쌍난·보화무늬 팔능 거울 [銅製雙鸞寶華文八稜形鏡]), 1100s. Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). Bronze; overall: 13.4 x 0.5 cm (5 1/4 x 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of John L. Severance, 1921.660
