This mirror would have been an appropriate wedding gift, as mirrors were part of a bride's trousseau, and mandarin ducks are a symbol of conjugal bliss. The combination of mandarin ducks and lotus represents a wish for a couple being paired for life. The lozenge is an auspicious symbol, and the knotted shou cords tied to them symbolize the intimate relationship between a husband and wife. A pair of magpies suspending similar cord-tied lozenges are on a Tang lobed mirror illustrated in Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, no. 76. The shape, type of decoration, style of casting, and satiny silver patina of this mirror are typical of Tang mirrors of 8th century date.