{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O158576"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158576/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF3645/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF3645/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF3645","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JY1437","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O158576/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O158576","accessionNumber":"M.2-1930","objectType":"Mirror","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Silver objects became important luxury items for emperors and high-ranking officials during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-960), but silver could also be used to enhance the appearance of objects. In this eight-lobed bronze mirror, the back is covered with an elaborate embossed and chased silver decoration. \r\n\r\nThe animal and vine designs were popular motifs in the metalwork production of the Silk Road during the Tang dynasty, and the granulation technique was frequently executed on silver products.","physicalDescription":"Eight-lobed bronze mirror, covered by embossed and chased silver within a plain raised border on the back. The silver surface is divided into three sections separated by two thin raised concentric borders. The inner medallion has in the centre a pierced boss in the form of a bear, surrounded by five lions. The second section is decorated with four animals, and the third with eight birds, one for each lobe; vine scrolls fill the intervening spaces and the ground is enriched with punched granulation.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"chasing","id":"AAT54016"},{"text":"embossing","id":"AAT53826"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze with silver","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[{"text":"Tang","id":"AAT18420"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006BF3645","2017JY1437"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES361843"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"MIRROR","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 650-800","earliest":"0645-01-01","latest":"0800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"7.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Yamanaka & Co.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bronze mirror with animal designs, China, Tang dynasty, ca. 650-800","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lions (animals)","id":"x30150"},{"text":"birds","id":"x35043"},{"text":"vine scrolls","id":"AAT10105"},{"text":"bears","id":"x29380"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"M.2-1930\r\nSilver and bronze mirror\r\n650-800, Tang dynasty","date":{"text":"June 1991","earliest":"1991-06-01","latest":"1991-06-30"}}],"partNumbers":["M.2-1930"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1930,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-23","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-08","availableToBook":true}}