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Mirror with "TLV" Pattern

Creator Name

China

Cultural Context

--

Date

Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE), about 1st century

About the work

Art Institute of Chicago Object Description

The design of this mirror reflects principles of ancient Chinese cosmology that envisioned a circular universe enclosing a square earth. Within the border of the square are characters denoting the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The marks resembling T, L, and V correspond to patterns on an instrument used by Han dynasty diviners to foretell the future. This mirror was designed to place its owner at the center of the cosmos, a favorable position symbolically protected by the Animals of the Four Directions—the Green Dragon of the East, the Red Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Warrior (tortoise and snake) of the North.

Work details

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Title

Mirror with "TLV" Pattern

Creator

China

Worktype

Decorative Arts; bronze; metal; mirror; asian art; decorative arts

Cultural Context

--

Material

Bronze; bronze

Dimensions

Diam.: 21 cm (8 1/4 in.); Thickness: D.: 0.5 cm (3/16 in.)

Technique

--

Language

--

Date

Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE), about 1st century

Provenance

Samuel M. Nickerson Endowment

Style Period

Chinese (culture or style)

Rights

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Public Domain
Public Domain

Inscription

--

Location

China

Subject

--

Topic

--

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

China, Mirror with "TLV" Pattern, Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE), about 1st century, Art Institute of Chicago. Public Domain.

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