Khmer Bronze Mirror, Hand-Crafted in Cambodia, 14th - 15th Century

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

In Southeast Asia, The Khmer culture existed between the 9th and … Read more A small bronze mirror from Thailand, circa 13th-15th Century.

In Southeast Asia, The Khmer culture existed between the 9th and 15 centuries, originating in Cambodia and extending throughout Southeast Asia. Influenced by Buddhism and primitive nature religions, they produced a remarkable aesthetic still admired today, and their bronze mirrors are a surviving example of their superb metalwork skills.

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. The natives put water on surface to use as a reflection to see their faces.

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.
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