The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 7, 2023

Mirror with Four Nipples and Eight Animals

四乳八獸鏡

AD 300

China, Western Jin dynasty

(265-316)

Bronze

Diameter: 19.6 cm (7 11/16 in.); Overall: 1.3 cm (1/2 in.); Rim: 1 cm (3/8 in.)

Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1995.334

Location

not on view

Description

Inscription: On the day of wu, the first month, the first year of Yongkang, I made the bright mirror at the first of dawn by refining the yellow and the white [metals]. Great fortune and wealth will come as a result. May you live a long life. Up above are the King Father [of the East] and the Queen Mother of the West.

Inscriptions

Inscription

永康元年正月午日，由（幽）【涑】黃日（白）。 早作明鏡，大吉大宮（富）。 延長壽命，上有王父西王母。

Inscription Translation

On the day of wu, the first month, the first year of Yongkang, I made the bright mirror at the first of dawn by refining the yellow and the white [metals]. Great fortune and wealth will come as a result. May you live a long life. Up above are the King Father [of the East] and the Queen Mother of the West.

Citations
Chou, Ju-hsi. Circles of reflection: the Carter collection of Chinese bronze mirrors. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2000. Reproduced: p. 18, cat. no. 44
Exhibition history

Cleveland, Ohio: The Cleveland Museum of Art; September 17-November 26, 2000. "Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors" exh. cat. no. 44, pp. 57-58; pp. 107, 119; repr. p. 57, color repr. pl. 4, p. 18.

New York, New York: China Institute Gallery; February 6, 2002-June 2, 2002. "Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors".

Madison, Wisconsin: Elvehjem Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison; December 20, 2003-February 29, 2004. "Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors".

Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 17-November 26, 2000); China Institute Gallery, New York, NY (February 6-June 2, 2002); Elvehjem Museum of Art, Madison, WI (December 20, 2003-February 29, 2004).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1995.334