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Source Description
The two leopard-like creatures stalking each other around the knob of this mirror display a naturalistic animal style that emerged with the Sui and Tang unification of China. Their constrained energy contrasts markedly with the reserved image of a young woman described in the encircling poetic inscription: <br><br>The maiden's chamber—bright and clear <br>Her precious mirror—round <br>It has doubled both her eyes <br>As she danced with the lonely phoenix. <br>Its light flows over her powdered face, painted brow <br>Diffusing radiance upon her silken gauze <br>While with infinite delicacy <br>She demurely glances at herself. <br><br>Unlike the tightly integrated Han mirrors, examples of the Sui and Tang are typically inscribed with romantic verses that bear no relation to their accompanying designs.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
108543
label
Mirror with Paired Felines
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
108543
contentType
object
title
Mirror with Paired Felines
description
The two leopard-like creatures stalking each other around the knob of this mirror display a naturalistic animal style that emerged with the Sui and Tang unification of China. Their constrained energy contrasts markedly with the reserved image of a young woman described in the encircling poetic inscription: <br><br>The maiden's chamber—bright and clear <br>Her precious mirror—round <br>It has doubled both her eyes <br>As she danced with the lonely phoenix. <br>Its light flows over her powdered face, painted brow <br>Diffusing radiance upon her silken gauze <br>While with infinite delicacy <br>She demurely glances at herself. <br><br>Unlike the tightly integrated Han mirrors, examples of the Sui and Tang are typically inscribed with romantic verses that bear no relation to their accompanying designs.
date
late 500s–600s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80057038
genreSpecific
Metalwork
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Diameter: 14.5 cm (5 11/16 in.)
cul
China, Sui dynasty (581-618) - Tang dynasty (618-907)
accession
1926.249
Source extras
tec
bronze
tombstone
Mirror with Paired Felines, late 500s–600s. China, Sui dynasty (581-618) - Tang dynasty (618-907). Bronze; diameter: 14.5 cm (5 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Dudley P. Allen Fund, 1926.249
collection
China - Sui Dynasty
inscriptions
inscription
The maiden's chamber---bright and clear
Her precious mirror---round
It has doubled both her eyes
As she danced with the lonely phoenix.
Its light flows over her powdered face, painted brow
Diffusing radiance upon her silken gauze
While with infinite delicacy
She demurely glances at herself.
sortorder
1
creditline
Dudley P. Allen Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:48:46.003000
sourceId
108543
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Sui Dynasty
med
bronze
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
5ef2e4afe8ed7442