Mirror - Bronze - Bronze hand mirror ekaga

This rare, antique Japanese bronze hand mirror, in the traditional art world known as an ekagami, forms a splendid example of metal casting art from the Far East. The object dates from the late Edo period, spanning the eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. The mirror is skillfully cast from a high-quality, heavy bronze alloy, a classic Japanese composition of copper, tin, and lead. With a total length of 20.8 centimeters and a diameter of 14.6 centimeters, this compact mirror has an elegant, balanced character and weighs exactly 185 grams. The thickness of the circular face is a subtle 0.3 centimeters.

The backside is richly decorated with a refined and symbolic relief against a characteristic, grainy background structure. Centrally at the bottom sits a detailed Nandia shrub, a plant in Japanese tradition believed to ward off misfortune and turn bad luck into good fortune. At the top, a circular family crest, a so-called mon, is displayed. This specific design shows a stylized variant of the wisteria, at the time the insignia of an aristocratic family or a prominent samurai clan.

The mirror is in a fair and completely authentic state. The decorated side bears a deep, very dark patina that beautifully emphasizes the depth of the relief. The flat front, which originally carried a shiny, reflective layer of tin and mercury to serve as a utilitarian object, has over the centuries oxidized naturally into a handsome matte bronze-colored surface. Along the edges are minute casting bubbles, an unmistakable feature of the historical, handmade casting process. This relic represents a wonderful piece of Japanese cultural history, ideally suited for enthusiasts and collectors of Asian antiquities.

Dimensions: 20.8 x 14.6 x 0.3 cm
Weight: 185 g