Chinese Mirror in Carved Frame

Mirror in a narrow carved frame, with a pair of floral bands on top.

This mirror in carved frame is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is carved wood. Tibetans were traditionally semi-nomadic and owned few personal furnishings, so most Tibetan furniture stood in monasteries, and some of it was carted over the Himalayas to India as monasteries were destroyed. Upright glass is flanked by tall side strips of carved columns with fine incised lines, and topped by two long panels of flowers and leaves. Reddish-brown finish, with a rubbed gloss and darker cut lines. It is 36 inches long, 2 deep and 45 high.

Mirrors have rarely been dressed this carefully.