An early Egyptian Copper Mirror, First Intermediate Period, ca. 2181 - 2055 BCE

The thin elliptical mirror disc, once burnished to a gleaming reflective surface,  connects to a short tang that would have been inserted into a handle. The modern wooden handle seen here is modeled after those used in ancient times. 

Reflecting the image of a person, the mirror disc was associated with vitality, generation, and regeneration. Further, the elliptical form and light-giving quality reflect that of the sun disk, and to a lesser extent the lunar as well. 

Cf. Petrie Objects of Daily Use (Oxford, 1927), p. 32 & pl. xxviii, no. 35 for an identical example from an Old Kingdom tomb at Qau.

Dimensions: 16 cm (6.3 inches) x 16.5 cm (6.5 inches)

Condition: With a few minor losses to the edges, a minor dent in the upper surface, and small areas of corrosion, overall intact and in good condition.  The wood handle is a museum-quality custom mount.

Provenance:  Orange County private collection, California, acquired in the 1970s.