Mirror with Two Dragons and a Tiger (200s CE): Art, History and Details

Mirror with Two Dragons and a Tiger (200s CE) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

Inscription: I, Master Zhang, produced this mirror, When alien tribes in four corners were being subjugated. Let us praise our Lord, for the people are given respite. After quelling the Hu and Qiang [tribes], he will restore peace on earth. May you reach the high office and receive your just reward. May you [gain the power to] protect your parents and descendants from harm. May your joy be endless.

Object facts

• Title: Mirror with Two Dragons and a Tiger
• Date: 200s CE
• Culture: China, Three Kingdoms (221–280 CE)
• Type: Metalwork
• Technique: bronze
• Dimensions: Diameter: 14.7 cm (5 13/16 in.); Overall: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.); Rim: 1.1 cm (7/16 in.)
• Collection: China - Three Kingdoms
• Department: Chinese Art
• Accession number: 1995.322

Collection credit

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

Further reading listed by the museum

• Chou, Ju-hsi. Circles of reflection: the Carter collection of Chinese bronze mirrors. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2000.

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.