Bronze mirror with a handle

From Japan
Edo period, 18th century AD

This mirror is decorated with a perfect miniature landscape. Peacocks stand beneath a flowering plum tree beside a waterfall and winding stream. To the left irises are coming into bloom. The handle has its original rattan binding.

The mirror is inscribed Fujiwara Masashige saku (‘Made by Masashige of the Fujiwara family'). Makers of mirrors often had high status in Japan because the mirror, together with the sword and the jewel, formed part of the Imperial regalia.

L. Smith, V. Harris and T. Clark, Japanese art: masterpieces in (London, The British Museum Press, 1990)