Lotus Emerging from Clear Water Mirror

The lotus is the flower of the sixth month, and its goddess is said to be Xi Shi (西施), the great beauty who is also remembered as the immortal who treads the waves (凌波仙子). This mirror takes its design from a Qing dynasty Yongzheng famille rose lotus vase (玉壶春瓶) held in the Palace Museum, and gives form to Li Bai's (李白) line in which clear water brings forth the lotus, natural and free of all ornament (清水出芙蓉，天然去雕饰). Across a rippling pool, lotus blossoms open beside a goldfish and a dragonfly, the whole scene caught as if just after rain.

Key Features

• Honours the lotus (荷花), the flower of the sixth lunar month and an old emblem of purity, the bloom that rises unstained from the mud
• Draws its scene from a Qing Yongzheng famille rose lotus vase in the Palace Museum, reimagined as a pool where lotus, goldfish and dragonfly gather after rain
• Built up in transparent enamel (透明珐琅), layered to let light pass through and lend the water its clear, glassy depth
• Finished with pearlescent lacquer (珠光烤漆) worked into a rippling water effect, so the surface seems to move beneath the fingertips
• Lotus blossoms raised in three-dimensional relief (浮雕), rising in soft tiers above the pool
• Set with pearl accents and a pearl drop, quiet points of light among the petals

Who This Is For

For the woman who keeps beauty close at hand and finds meaning in the old stories. A considered gift for a mother, a daughter, or a dear friend, and a quiet companion for anyone drawn to the flowering of the seasons. Equally at home tucked into an evening bag or resting on a dressing table among one's most treasured things.

The Three Styles

• Handle Mirror: approximately 10.5 × 18.5 cm, single-sided with a decorative handle and tassel, presented in a gift box approximately 13.4 × 21.4 × 2.6 cm
• Pocket Mirror: approximately 9 cm diameter, single-sided, presented in a gift box approximately 15 × 15 × 2.7 cm
• Folding Pocket Mirror: approximately 7 cm diameter, double-sided with a flat mirror and a magnifying mirror, supplied with a silk drawstring pouch, presented in a gift box approximately 10 × 10 × 3.2 cm

Materials & Details

• Metal body with a gold-tone finish
• Transparent enamel with pearlescent lacquer
• Three-dimensional relief lotus design
• High-definition glass mirror
• Pearl accents and pearl drop
• Presented in a hardcover gift box
• Measurements taken by hand and may vary slightly

Care

Keep away from hard or sharp objects to protect the surface design. Wipe the mirror gently with a soft, dry cloth. Store in its box or pouch when not in use.