A CHINESE SILVERED BRONZE 'LION AND GRAPE' MIRROR

Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 C.E)

唐 狻猊葡萄紋鍍銀銅鏡

The circular mirror centered by an arched knob in the form of a mythical beast, encircled by four lions prowling amongst leafy fruiting grapevines enclosed by a ridged border, the outer section with birds perched amidst additional foliage,

11.8cm diameter, weight approx. 498g

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REFERENCE:

A larger mirror from the same period, from the collection of Robert H. Ellsworth, was sold at Christie's New York, 20th March 2015, lot 725. This mirror bears similar aesthetic choices to the present lot, including the presence of birds perched amongst fruiting vines in the outer band, and more notably, the extension of the vines over the inner ridge, which creates a more 'allover' design. Also see a slightly smaller mirror with a comparable design sold at Bonhams New Bond Street, Roger Keverne Ltd Moving On, 11th May 2021, lot 75.

Another even larger mirror, decorated with blue pigment, is illustrated in 'Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum', Shanghai, 2005, no. 88, p. 252. Also compare another mirror, closer to the size of the current lot, which is housed in The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors and is illustrated in the exhibition catalogue 'Circles of Reflection', The Cleveland Museum of Art, no. 56, p. 66. The author of this book, Ju-hsi Chou, notes that a mirror with the same design was unearthed in the tomb of General Anpu (d. 664) and his wife (d. 704), and therefore concludes that these mirrors should be dated to the last decades of the 7th century.

THIS LOT IS OFFERED WITH NO RESERVE

無底價