Mirror
Date15th century
Maker
Japanese
Label TextMount Penglai (Hōrai in Japanese) is a mythological island in Chinese Daoism where immortals roam. Penglai is populated by an array of auspicious animals and plants associated with longevity: cranes, long-tailed tortoises, and pine trees. This constellation of motifs features prominently in Japanese decorative arts beginning in the 1100s. The mirror’s composition is one that emerged in the 1200s and can be found on mirrors throughout the medieval period.
Object number66.44
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Deities & Demons: Supernatural in Japanese Art, October 20, 2022 – May 18, 2025 (on view December 7, 2024 – May 18, 2025).Published References"Art of Asian Recently Acquired by American Museums." Archives of Asian Art, Vol. 21 (1967-68): p. 91, fig. 52.Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions1/4 in. (0.64 cm)
Diam.: 10 3/8 in.
MediumBronze
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