🎎 Antique Japanese Bronze Mirror (Kagami) with Shōchikubai Motif – Edo to Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow
🎎 This compelling hand mirror—most likely from the late Edo to early Meiji period—offers a quiet glimpse into Japan’s material and spiritual traditions. Cast in what is most likely bronze, the piece has acquired a rich, timeworn patina. Its once-reflective face is now dulled by scratches and the patina of age, no longer serving as a mirror in the literal sense, but as a deeply symbolic relic of daily life in a changing Japan. The mirror's reverse side features a beautifully cast shōchikubai (松竹梅) design: pine (matsu) for endurance, bamboo (take) for flexibility, and plum (ume) for courageous beauty in winter. These three together form a classic trio of auspicious symbols in Japanese art.
Rather than depicting a plum blossom pictorially, the plum is represented by the kanji character "梅", cast at the center of the design—a subtle but powerful nod to the flower’s meaning. Flanking the character are stylized pine needles and bamboo stalks, elegantly arranged in low relief.
The mirror also bears a line of older, cursive-style script, likely a dedication or poetic phrase. Though worn and difficult to decipher, it adds an air of mystery typical of older Japanese artifacts—reminding us how writing styles, like tools and traditions, evolve through time.
📏 Approximate dimensions
• Length: 10.2 cm
• Width: 6.4 cm
• Weight: 110 g
• Material: Most likely cast bronze
• Condition: Reflective face dulled with scratches and oxidation; structurally solid
• Era: Late Edo to early Meiji period (mid-1800s)
• Function: Personal hand mirror (kagami), ritual object, or decorative piece
Traditionally, kagami (鏡) were more than grooming tools—they were sacred objects believed to reflect not only appearance but also truth. One of Japan’s Three Imperial Regalia is a mirror, and in Shinto practice, mirrors serve as vessels for divine presence. On a more personal level, this mirror may have once rested in the sleeve of a woman’s kimono, cherished as part of her daily life or formal attire.
Curated in Shizuoka City by Kurt Bell, this rare artifact captures not only a reflection of the past—but a reflection on it. Quiet, worn, and full of character, it invites contemplation of the lives it has seen and the meaning it continues to carry.
Embark with Kurt, an American journeyman born in 1964, as he explores Japan’s cultural and spiritual legacy through artifacts both ordinary and extraordinary. With Stoic reflection and insights from his memoir Going Alone, each object becomes a gateway to story, memory, and The Good Life. 🌄📚🎎
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🌐 Website: https://goingalone.org
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
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Quality Guarantee & Returns
- Quality is guaranteed. If there is a print error or visible quality issue, we'll replace or refund it.
- Because the products are made to order, we do not accept general returns or sizing-related returns.