Double-tier Mirror, 300s BCE, Warring States period (475–221 BCE). Bronze. Diameter: 7.6 cm; Overall: 0.8 cm; Rim: 0.5 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1999.220.

This luxury object consists of two different layers: a reflective disc with a central knob on the back, and a ring with openwork serpent designs.

The craft of mirror making prospered remarkably during the Warring States period, as bronzes increasingly served as luxury items for individuals. A variety of ornamentations appear on the backs of mirrors, some of which bear resemblance to those found in contemporary jades, lacquer wares, and textiles—all luxury items of the day. This tiny round mirror belongs to the rare double-cast type. It consists of two different layers: a reflective disc with a central knob at the back, and a ring with openwork designs of undulating serpents.