The Shoso-in Treasure
y Eight-Lobed Bronze Mirror Decorated with
Mother-of-Pearl Inlay on the back z
Diameter,27.4cm
This is a cast bronze mirror, back of
which is decorated with inlaid mother-of-
pearl designs of flowers, leaves, birds and
pearl rings. The hearts and petals of
flowers are set with amber. Amber of this
kind, with its deep red tinge, is found
only among the Shoso-in treasures, and said
to be produced now in northern Burma.
The fragments of turquoise are filling the
blank areas among the inlaid designs. The
preparatory coating of the mirror back is
some resin like asphalt. This is the one
listed in the Dedicatory Record.
To other treasures
Shoso-in Repository