 Chinese Bronze Mirrors
Before the introduction of modern mirror which is glass coated
with a layer of mercury on the back, most ancient cultures solved the problem to
see one's face, and bronze mirrors were found in key civilizations. In China,
the first tool to serve as mirror is a shallow bronze jar (called Jian 鑑)
which holds water to provide reflection of one's face.
However, this was a very expensive item, available only to the rulers.
With the advancement of metallurgy in mid bronze age, the bronze mirror replaces
the jian as the common mirror in Warring State period. So bronze mirror has
about three thousand years of developmental history in China. Most collectors
concentrate on Chinese mirrors of the Warring States, Han Dynasty, and Tang
Dynasty, while those from Sung Dynasty onward were neglected. All Chinese mirrors
have one shiny reflective side and a decorative side. A knob at the center of
the decorative side allows a rope to be tied as a handle. In Sung Dynasty, some
mirrors have handles to replace the knob. The different styles and materials of
the Chinese bronze mirror are reflective (pun intended) of the artistic fashion
and technological advances in metallurgy during different periods of history. As
a practical tool for reflection, the Chinese mirror needs polishing after some
period of use. Joseph Needham, in his master work-Science and Civilization in
China, provides detailed information about this (see p. 248, part 2, vol. 5).
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