Mirror with Handle in the Form of Papyrus Column, with Large Umbel

Egyptian artisans showed unparalleled skill in using religious symbolism for the design and decoration of everyday objects such as mirrors. The elliptical shape of this polished bronze mirror is typical, representing the appearance of the sun as it rises over the horizon at dawn. The papyrus-inspired handle symbolizes the sun's emergence from the primordial swamp that marked the transition between this world and the afterlife while defining the landscape of creation. As the disk reflected sunlight, it implied the promise of daily renewal.