{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O382186"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O382186/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NC5637/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NC5637/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022NC5637","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC5638","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC5639","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC5640","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O382186/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O382186","accessionNumber":"2225-1900","objectType":"Mirror","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Mirrors have long been part of society, and the earliest known examples were made of polished obsidian, dating to the 6th millennium BC. In the 4th millennium BC Mesopotamians discovered the reflective quality of copper, and began to produce mirrors made of highly polished copper and bronze. The metal would be polished repeatedly to create a smooth, reflective surface which could be used to check appearances. These mirrors spread throughout Europe, and nearby Egypt, where they were used until the invention of glass mirrors in the 3rd century. Elaborately decorated bronze mirrors were also used throughout Japan, Korea and China up to the 18th-19th century. \r\nBronze, or copper alloy, mirrors were typically circular, and could be mounted in a variety of ways. Hand-held mirrors, utilising a single handle at the base, were incredibly popular and versions of exist from ancient Egypt, Britain, Italy, Greece and beyond. Images of women and goddesses admiring themselves in hand mirrors can often be seen in Ancient Greek design, indicating that they were widely used and recognisable. Mirrors could also be freestanding, such as standing table mirrors, or be incorporated into a small decorated boxes, similar to a 20th century make-up compact. \r\nMirrors were particularly popular in Egypt where make-up and personal grooming was an important part of the religion and general society. In Egypt mirrors were predominately ovoid and pear-shaped until the late dynastic period when they became more circular. To keep the mirror plate unobscured, ancient Egyptians typically focused on handle decoration, creating detailed carvings of ivory, wood and even gold. These handles often related to Egyptian religion, and mythology.  Many Egyptian mirrors feature caryatid handles designed to resemble the goddess of fertility, Hathor, holding a mirror on her head. The handle of this mirror flanked by two crescents creating another popular shape- the papyrus. The papyrus also represented fertility and was thought to link to the regenerative power of the swamps in which it grew. More broadly, the papyrus was the symbol of Lower Egypt, and was used in architecture and design throughout the area. ","physicalDescription":"Bronze mirror with handle. Pear-shaped mirror plate, wider at the top, thinner at the edge connected to the handle. Rounded bars on either side of the handle in a stylised papyrus shape. Handle is wide with rounded end. One side of handle decorated with triangle design near mirrot plate.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Bronze","id":"x40014"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast in two pieces, connected by mirror tang and rivet.","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2022NC5637","2022NC5638","2022NC5639","2022NC5640"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"014","id":"THES407134"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mirror","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1587 BC-1328 BC","earliest":"-1587-01-01","latest":"-1328-01-01"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Depth","value":"18","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"20/12/2021","earliest":"2021-12-20","latest":"2021-12-20"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"172","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"20/12/2021","earliest":"2021-12-20","latest":"2021-12-20"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"268","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"20/12/2021","earliest":"2021-12-20","latest":"2021-12-20"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Copper alloy mirror, with papyrus-shaped handle, Egyptian, 18th dynasty","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Kamrin, Janice. <u>“Papyrus in Ancient Egypt.” </u><i>Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History</i>. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Manniche, Lise. <u>Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt.</u> Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1999."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lee, Mireille M. <u>The Gendered Economics of Greek Bronze Mirrors: Reflections on Reciprocity and Feminine Agency.</u> <i>Arethusa</i>, Vol. 50, No. 2. 2017. Pp. 143-168."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Source: Notes in the History of Art</u>, vol. 4, no. 3. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985. Pp. 2-67."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["2225-1900"],"accessionNumberNum":"2225","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1900,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-10","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}