history

The mirror-making handicraft of the country which has a proud tradition inherited from the bronze mirror with a fine line pattern of Ancient Joson (early 30th century BC-108 BC) was further developed during the period of Koryo (918-1392).

Most of the Koryo bronze mirrors known so far were unearthed from tombs and a few of them were discovered at royal palace sites and temples.

Koryo bronze mirror was well known from its early days for the variety of shapes, refined patterns and advanced metalwork.

The mirrors were mainly round in shape and sometimes rectangular. Besides, there were rectangular and octagonal ones whose edges were rounded off. Special ones were in the shape of a pot, bell or bottle and sometimes they had a handle.

The back of the mirror was decorated with different patterns.

Some of them have no patterns and some others have writing on them.