A bronze mirror is a type of mirror unique to China. They were produced from neolithic times until the Qing dynasty, when western mirrors were brought to China. Bronze mirrors were always circular with one side to look, and another side with designs. They often had a knob in the center so that they could be attached to clothing.
History
The earliest examples of Chinese bronze mirrors belonged to the Neolithic Qijia culture from around 2000 BCE. However, until warring states times, bronze mirrors were not common with approximately only 20 having been discovered. During the Warring States period, mirrors became particularly popular. It was during the Han dynasty, and the introduction of the TLV mirror, that mirrors became fully integrated in Chinese culture. Bronze mirrors continued to remain popular up through the Song dynasty, but then gradually lost their popularity and ceased to be produced after the arrival of Western mirrors.