Artwork preview

Mirror with lions and flowers

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The "Mirror with lions and flowers" by an unknown artist depicts a dark-colored, possibly bronze or metal, decorative mirror. The mirror has a scalloped edge with flower-like shapes. Inside the scalloped edge, there are raised floral designs spaced around the circumference. The central design features two lions on either side, facing each other, and a central sphere above an elongated object. The sphere and elongated object appear to be attached to or emanating from a stem with flowers or leaves at the top. The background of the mirror appears to have a textured surface. The lions have detailed features including manes and tails. The background behind the mirror is plain and light-colored.

Artwork details

Date:
8th–9th century
Medium:
Bronze
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
600 × 547 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette