Chinese magic mirror
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The Chinese magic mirror traces back to at least the 5th century, although their existence during the Han dynasty has been claimed. The mirrors were made out of solid bronze. The front was polished an
Magic mirror with an image of the Amitābha Buddha, Japan, 19th century. In this example there is a further bronze backplate, with an inscription, so that the Buddha can only be seen as a reflection.
The same mirror reflecting the image onto a screen
The back of the same mirror
Bronze mirror
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Bronze mirrors preceded the glass mirrors of today. This type of mirror, sometimes termed a copper mirror, has been found by archaeologists among elite assemblages from various cultures, from Etruscan
Chinese magic mirror
…to become transparent. If that light is reflected from the mirror onto a wall, the pattern on the back of the mirror is then projected onto the wall. Bronze mirrors were the standard in many Eurasian cultures, but most lacked this characteristic, as did most Chinese bronze mirrors. Robert Temple describes their…
Etruscan mirror back incised with the Judgement of Paris, 4th–3rd century BCE (Musée du Louvre)
Newly-made Aranmula Kannadi, Kerala, India
Maid holding folding mirror for her mistress, Greece, c. 100 BCE
An Eastern Han-period TLV mirror, 25–220 CE