A polished obsidian disc on a stand, in a form Mexico has been producing for around six hundred years.
Circular obsidian mirrors are a recognised Aztec object type. They were made from the same volcanic glass the Aztecs used for blades and tool edges, worked instead into flat discs and polished until they reflected. The god Tezcatlipoca took his name from them: it translates as smoking mirror.
What makes an obsidian mirror different from a silvered one is how little it gives back. Glass this dark absorbs most of the light that hits it, so a reflection in it is dim, low-contrast and drained of colour. You see shape rather than detail. That quality is exactly why they were valued, and it is still the reason they are worth looking into rather than at.
Mohs 5 to 5.5, so the polished face marks more easily than quartz does. Dust it before wiping, and use a soft dry cloth.
Mineral: Obsidian, a volcanic glass
Crystal system: None, obsidian is amorphous
Origin: Mexico
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale; the polished face scratches easily and shows marks
Treatment: None
Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.18 x 21.5 cm
Weight: 330 g Note: Supplied on a stand
You will receive the exact piece photographed.