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Circular mirror
Circular mirror

Circular mirror

Place of OriginJapan
Place of OriginJapan or China
Date250-552
CultureJapanese
MaterialsBronze
DimensionsDiam. 6 9/16 in x Th. 3/16 in, Diam. 16.7 cm x Th. 0.5 cm
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB65B54
DepartmentJapanese Art
ClassificationsMetal Arts
On View
On view
LocationGallery 25
More Information
Stylized divine beasts decorate the mirror on the left [B67B1], while six bosses, or projections, alternate with seated figures at regular intervals on the right-hand mirror[B65B54]. The background is ornamented with curvilinear motifs. Each mirror has outer concentric bands with various combtooth, sawtooth, and double zigzag patterns. Kofun elites prized such mirrors, either imported from China or based on Chinese prototypes, as status objects.