Function: Used primarily for personal grooming, while its decorated reverse indicates symbolic, protective, and status-related significance.
This circular bronze mirror features a flat reflective surface on the obverse and a richly decorated reverse cast in low relief. The reverse depicts stylized animal figures, possibly a horse-like creature and another quadruped, arranged symmetrically around a central vertical motif composed of raised oval elements. Above the central motif are two large looped forms, which may represent abstracted horns, celestial symbols, or protective emblems. The animals are rendered in a lively, schematic style characteristic of medieval Islamic metalwork, where zoomorphic imagery often carried symbolic or apotropaic meaning.
The mirror is attached to a cylindrical handle, likely made of bone, wood, or ivory, reinforced with metal collars and terminating in a small perforation for suspension. The surface shows a green patina consistent with aged bronze, indicating prolonged burial or long-term use. Such mirrors were not only functional objects but also conveyed cultural beliefs related to protection, power, and cosmic order.
