{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O67611"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O67611/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF7686/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF7686/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF7686","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0872","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O67611/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O67611","accessionNumber":"M.737:1&2-1910","objectType":"Mirror stand&Stand","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Mirrors in China are associated with ceremonial rites and magic and mysticism, as well as with ordinary cosmetic purposes. Many mirrors had links with the Chinese mystical philosophy of Taoism. This beautiful mirror stand seems to combine a practical use perhaps for a lady of leisure, with Taoist symbolism. It takes the form of a mythical one-horned beast called 'xiniu'. This form of mirror stand represents the classical allusion 'the xiniu longs for the moon', with the mirror being the moon. The meaning of the allusion being that miracles can be brought into being by mental activity alone.","physicalDescription":"Bronze mirror-stand with parcel-gilt, in the form of a recumbent animal called a 'xiniu', with the mirror-holder on its back in the shape of a crescent moon and clouds. The animal is looking around at the moon (which would be represented by a bronze mirror) rising above a bank of clouds.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"parcel-gilt","id":"AAT233409"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze, parcel-gilt","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[{"text":"Song-Yuan","id":"x30989"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006BF7686","2006AH0872"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES361713"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES361713"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mirror stand","id":""}],[{"text":"Stand","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"13th century","earliest":"1200-01-01","latest":"1300-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"27","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Mirror-stand and stand, parcel-gilt bronze, China, Song or Yuan dynasty (960-1368) 13th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.737:1-1910","M.737:2-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"737","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Mirror stand","Stand"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2002-09-20","availableToBook":true}}