MIROIR D'ORACLE EN LAITON DORÉ ORNÉ D'ARGENT SUR SOCLE EN BOIS POLYCHROME BOURIATIE, XIXE SIÈCLEMIROIR D'ORACLE EN LAITON DORÉ ORNÉ D'ARGENT SUR SOCLE EN BOIS POLYCHROMEBOURIATIE, XIXE SIÈCLE Himalayan Art Resources item no. 205020 44.4 cm (17 1/2 in.) high overall; Mirror: 24.1 cm (9 1/2 in.) diam.A GILT BRASS SILVER-APPLIED ORACLE MIRROR ON A POLYCHROME WOOD STAND BURIATIA, 19TH CENTURY 布里亞特 十九世紀 銅鎏金飾銀護法鏡連木雕加彩底座 Mirrors such as these were used by Tibetan oracles in divination practices. Often presented at the center of these mirrors are seed syllables, or mystical sounds symbolizing the origin or causation of things. Cast in silver here is the sound for, 'HUM,' designed to invoke the principles of the enlightened mind. There are notable parallels between Tibetan oracles and Siberian shamans, particularly in their similar use of mirrors for divination. Buriat shamans wear copper plates with reflective surfaces called toli, which correspond to mirrors worn by Tibetan oracle priest around the chest (see Spink, Art of Buriatia, 1996, p. 546).Published:Spink & Son Ltd., Art of Buriatia: Buddhist icons from Southern Siberia, London 1996, p.46, no.47.Provenance:Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1996