Arkivism
Mirror with Six Circular Flowers
CC0 · no rights reserved

Mirror with Six Circular Flowers

600s · bronze

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Around the mirror’s central knob, there are six floral designs set within circles, separated by candelabra-like dividers. These flower designs later became known as "baoxiang hua 寶相花" or "flowers of precious appearance", which often remind people of Buddhist connections. The design also includes a ribbon of inscription, praising the mirror’s clarity and celebrating the end of a war.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineMirror with Six Circular Flowers (寶相花鏡), 600s. China, Tang dynasty (618-907). Bronze; diameter: 16.6 cm (6 9/16 in.); overall: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.); rim: 0.9 cm (3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee, 1995.341

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