A SELJUQ CAST BRONZE MIRROR
Iran or Anatolia, 12th - 13th century

Of circular shape, the front decorated with two addorsed sphinxes with scorpion tails, between them a ridged, flower-shaped boss, on the outer rim an undeciphered inscription in foliate Kufic, possibly benedictory, the back plain, 10.5cm diam.

During the rise of the Seljuq and Turkish dynasties in the 12th - 13th centuries, a large production of circular cast-bronze mirrors can be witnessed. These mirrors not only had a practical function, but also worked as talismans, often bearing benedictory inscriptions and apotropaic symbols and motifs. Given the wide popularity of these mirrors, many examples can be found in several museum collections (see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 15.43.285; and the LACMA, AC1995.252.28). Some examples similar to ours were successfully sold at Christie's South Kensington, 27 April 2012, lot 709; and in these Rooms, 3 May 2019, lot 29.