Ancient Khmer Bronze Mirror - 20 cm
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
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Estimate € 650 - € 750
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Description from the seller
Shipping only within Europe!
Courtyard or ritual mirror with a flaring rim
Khmer Empire
Bayon period, 12th–13th century
Bronze
Diameter: 16.5 cm Rim thickness: 1 cm
Presented on an adapted stand: 20 cm tall
Circular bronze mirror cast with a robust, clean structure typical of Bayon-era production. Designed with a flaring rim one centimeter thick, creating a slight cupped recess. The back is adorned with fine circular concentric mouldings incised in shallow relief, highlighting the object’s perfect roundness and structuring the space. The upper part is covered by a substantial sandy-earth accretion, securely fused to the patina.
The reflective face is slightly convex and originally polished to a very fine degree to achieve a highly reflective surface. It today bears a dark patina, smooth and vitreous in places, beautifully contrasted by greenish-blue oxidation efflorescences (copper carbonate) along the edge.
In the Khmer Empire, bronze mirrors were luxury objects associated with the aristocracy and sacred anointing rituals. Beyond their profane use for grooming court members, they carried strong symbolic and religious significance, embodying spiritual clarity, capturing divine light, and were used by the clergy to reflect the images of deities and dispel negative influences during ceremonies. The sobriety of the lines of this specimen emphasizes the technical mastery of Khmer founders in alloy composition (often enriched with tin to brighten the metal and optimize reflection).
Condition
Excellent archaeological conservation state. The structural integrity of the piece is perfectly preserved, with no cracks or major losses. The double patina—earthy and rough on one side, smooth and intensely mineral on the other—offers a striking visual testimony to its long sojourn buried.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection since 2021
Shipped with UPS and insured
Shipping only within Europe!
Courtyard or ritual mirror with a flaring rim
Khmer Empire
Bayon period, 12th–13th century
Bronze
Diameter: 16.5 cm Rim thickness: 1 cm
Presented on an adapted stand: 20 cm tall
Circular bronze mirror cast with a robust, clean structure typical of Bayon-era production. Designed with a flaring rim one centimeter thick, creating a slight cupped recess. The back is adorned with fine circular concentric mouldings incised in shallow relief, highlighting the object’s perfect roundness and structuring the space. The upper part is covered by a substantial sandy-earth accretion, securely fused to the patina.
The reflective face is slightly convex and originally polished to a very fine degree to achieve a highly reflective surface. It today bears a dark patina, smooth and vitreous in places, beautifully contrasted by greenish-blue oxidation efflorescences (copper carbonate) along the edge.
In the Khmer Empire, bronze mirrors were luxury objects associated with the aristocracy and sacred anointing rituals. Beyond their profane use for grooming court members, they carried strong symbolic and religious significance, embodying spiritual clarity, capturing divine light, and were used by the clergy to reflect the images of deities and dispel negative influences during ceremonies. The sobriety of the lines of this specimen emphasizes the technical mastery of Khmer founders in alloy composition (often enriched with tin to brighten the metal and optimize reflection).
Condition
Excellent archaeological conservation state. The structural integrity of the piece is perfectly preserved, with no cracks or major losses. The double patina—earthy and rough on one side, smooth and intensely mineral on the other—offers a striking visual testimony to its long sojourn buried.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection since 2021
Shipped with UPS and insured
Details
Era
Before 1400
Culture
Ancient Khmer
Century/timeframe
12-13th c.
Acquired from
Private collection
Number of objects
1
Country of origin
Cambodia
Year acquired
2021
Country acquired from
Belgium
Material
Bronze
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Previous owner - year acquired
1977
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
External height
20 cm
External width
17 cm
Internal height
16.5 cm
Internal width
17 cm
Depth
1 cm
Diameter
17 cm
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