Origin of Themes and Chemical Composition of Golden Horde Bronze Mirrors. Chinese and Iranian Prototypes Case Study

Since appeared, mirrors have been playing a significant role in a man's life. Archaeological and ethnographic materials claim that bronze mirrors were symbolic items with magic essence and properties. In particular, the community believed mirrors to symbolise family well-being, plenty offsprings and marriage. In 1200s–1300s metal mirrors came from oriental countries to the Golden Horde capitals in the Eastern Europe driven by foreign trade. These mirrors were popular household items, but their aesthetics promoted them to decorative and applied arts. The article reveals peculiarities of several artistic themes of bronze mirrors dated 1200s–1300s. The research relies on items originating from archaeological sites of Siberia, Southern Urals and Volga region. The study describes the themes, their evolution, formation, transformations and original cultural code. Besides, the study enhances the scholarly discourse with sixteen mirrors from the Southern Urals, Middle Urals and the Transurals. Some of the mirrors were discovered by excavations. Some items were found in museum collections or were accidental finds. The study analyses mirrors based on equivalent items from neighbouring regions. The items are classified according to their particular appearance with transformations determined in them. In 1200s–1300s the Southern Urals had many types of bronze mirrors spreading across. There were prototypes of Iranian and Chinese culture mirrors. Compared to the Volga region, the Southern Urals host few of them. Apparently, such finds need to be recorded and analysed from the systematic point of view. They need to be introduced into scholarly discourse too.

Bronze · Bronze Age · Ethnography · MAGIC (telescope) · Middle East · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History and Cultural Heritage