Roman bronze mirror

The back of bronze mirrors were ideal for demonstrating both the skills of the bronze worker and decorator. The decoration required considerable time and skill to produce, and only a few people could make them. Because of this they became a symbol of the high status of their owners.

Recent archaeologists have suggested that mirrors should be seen as symbols of female status and power, making as significant a statement for women as swords did for men. However, there is very little evidence to tell us which sex used mirrors, or if they were used exclusively by one sex or another.

Mirrors are mysterious and magic objects in many cultures, and indeed thay have curious properties: they are like water, but portable; they reflect an image with left and right reversed; when you look into a mirror you can see in two directions at once. The polished plate can be used to reflect a bright beam of light and heat onto a person or object, and even to signal over distances.

This mirror was probably placed in a Late Iron Age cremation grave, but the grave was destroyed by ploughing. The main part of the mirror was found by a farmer, the handle found the following year. The pattern on the back can be interpreted as an abstract or hidden face. The very fine lines of the symmetrical pattern were made with a graver, a tool with a hard, sharp edge. In parts of the pattern, lines were made at right angles to each other to make a prominent 'basket-weave' effect.

These mirrors were only made in Britain.

eltic mirrors display a variety of ornamental design. Variations exist in these designs, yet, each composition has a similar purpose: to play an aesthetic, non narrative role. The actual compositions of many Celtic Mirrors contain a large amount of ambiguity further complicating the true purpose of the mirror. Does the mirror have another function? One other than simply providing a reflection?

Amazingly, these mirrors are insular, therefore, the decoration did not travel to the main continent. These highly decorated mirrors arose in Britain, and for the most part, remained in Britain. With many other art forms receiving influence from Roman art, Celtic Mirror artisans were not influenced by Roman Mirrors. Roman mirrors contain more figural decorations rather than purely decorative designs, like Celtic Mirrors.

The Aston Mirror displays elements of shape-shifting and trilliums as well as metamorphosis. It is based on the circles, three smaller circles suspended inside three larger circles. Many Celtic mirror designs display highly elaborate decoration; however, the Aston Mirror is rather simple in decor. This simplicity does not eliminate an important Celtic feature, one of asymmetry. The circle furthest from the handle is slightly off center.

According to Ruth and Vincent Megaw, the negative space in the design is just as important as the “changing interplay — the light and shade of smooth and matted areas”. In other words, the Celts may not have thought the Aston Mirror was simple in its decoration. This simplicity allows the viewer to focus upon the metamorphosis of a human face and a bird and the concept of trilliums. By showing these abstract ideas, the Aston Mirror is “elaborately” decorated in its own way.

Just like the Desborough Mirror, the Aston Mirror distinctly displays metamorphosis. When held upside down, with the handle above the mirror, the two elliptical shapes close to each other become the eyes of the face. This mirror may, at first appear basic, yet at another glance, notice the pupils of the eyes. This small detail helps to create a metamorphosis, thus allowing the “mirror” to watch every action in the room. A human face is not the only thing “seen” in this mirror. A bird, whose head is the right ellipse and body is the large bulbous circle at the bottom, is also visible. As a result of this ambiguity, one may question whether or not a face or a bird was spotted in such a simply decorated mirror. This, according to Dr. Jacobsthal, is a special Celtic trademark.

Basketry hatching, a popular Celtic technique, was used to create this simple pattern. Outlining the decoration on the mirror is series of hatch marks creating a braided effect. Professionals claim the design was created by a craftsman with “limited technical ability”. This, combined with less than perfect tools, created an extraordinary mirror. When compared with the Mayer Mirror, the Aston Mirror does show lower craftsmanship. The artisan delicately engraved the bronze using a tool with a straight edge, and subsequently, created “irregular oblong basketry”.