Lobed Mirror with Paired Phoenixes, a Nestling Bird, and a Lotus Bloss

A silver-toned lobed mirror shows two phoenixes with long, curling tails facing a central knob, a small bird perched atop a lotus at the top, and a lotus blossom below. Cloud scrolls and flying birds fill the scalloped rim in low relief.

Look closer: A small flying bird is carved in low relief on the rim near the lower right edge.

Artist

Unknown

Date

700s

Medium

bronze

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Size

3400 × 3155 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee