Optical toy - Chinese Magic Mirror - 1850-1900

Nineteen century Magic Mirror. The original Chinese magic mirrors tracing back to at least the 5th century., The mirrors were made out of solid bronze. The front was polished and could be used as a mirror, while the back has a design cast in the bronze. It is said that when sunlight or other bright light shines onto the mirror, the mirror appears to become transparent. If that light is reflected from the mirror on to a wall, it is supposed that the pattern on the back of the mirror is then projected onto the wall.