This cast bronzed mirror depicts six stylised mythical creatures with a domed central knop. The raised rim is decorated with geometric bands.The earliest bronze mirrors were unearthed from the late Neolithic (c.6500-1900 BCE) and Shang (c.1600-1027 BCE) sites and it is thought the craft of making cast bronze mirrors began during these periods. The heydays of bronze culture came to an end with the discovery of iron and porcelain. While it continued to be used as a material, it became less popular later on.Bronze mirror casting fell at the time of the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) and was later revived during the Tang dynasty. This period saw the development of more naturalistic motifs and produced a great variety of shapes. Bronze mirrors were considered talismanic and were believed to protect its owner. They were often placed in tombs and larger ones were carried by Daoist priests on their backs to frighten off demons.
