Mirror, 15th century. Cast bronze, 7/16 x 4 1/2 in. (1.1 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 77.55.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.55.3_PS4.jpg)
Mirror, 15th century. Cast bronze, 7/16 x 4 1/2 in. (1.1 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 77.55.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.55.3_bw.jpg)
Mirror
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, Arts of Japan, 2nd floor
Bronze mirrors with one highly polished side (here facing the back of the case) were common luxury items in premodern Japan, but mirrors were also considered highly symbolic. Because of their ability to reflect light, mirrors were associated with the Shintō sun goddess, Amaterasu, considered the ancestor of all Japanese emperors. A similar ancient mirror, said to have belonged to Amaterasu’s grandson, is part of the regalia used at the enthronement ceremony for new emperors. The other two pieces of Japan’s imperial regalia are a magatama bead and a sword. The mirror represents the wisdom of the emperor, the bead his benevolence, and the sword his strength.
MEDIUM
Cast bronze
DATES
15th century
PERIOD
Muromachi Period
DIMENSIONS
7/16 x 4 1/2 in. (1.1 x 11.4 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
77.55.3
CREDIT LINE
Designated Purchase Fund
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Arts of Japan, 2nd floor
CAPTION
Mirror, 15th century. Cast bronze, 7/16 x 4 1/2 in. (1.1 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 77.55.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.55.3_PS4.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 77.55.3_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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