Khmer Bronze Mirror, 13-15th C.

A small bronze mirror from Cambodia, circa 13th-15th Century.

Bronze mirrors are first-surface mirrors. The immediate surface is flat and highly polished to be reflective, rather than modern second-surface glass mirrors, where the reflection comes from a backing applied to glass.

After several centuries, these bronze mirrors are no longer useful for their primary purpose, but have developed a beautiful patina that gives them a special aesthetic value. This small mirror is five inches wide, well preserved, and freely resting on a bespoke black metal stand for a total height of approximately eight inches.