Description
This mirror bears a large character of xi 囍 ("double happiness," as in a marriage) as its principal decoration. Below that, a smaller inscription in a rectangular frame establishes the mirror maker's identity. Tang Wanheng 湯萬亨 must have enjoyed a lucrative trade and sufficient renown to warrant the inclusion of his name on his products. It has been suggested that these mirrors were not so much made for reflective purposes as for ritualistic use during the marriage ceremony, hence the "double happiness" as its main decoration.
Provenance
Thomas and Martha Carter, Madison, WI, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?–1995); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1995–)
Accession Number
1995.401
Medium
brass
Dimensions
Diameter: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 in.); Overall: 0.6 cm (1/4 in.); Rim: 0.6 cm (1/4 in.)
Classification
Metalwork
Credit Line
Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee