A CHINESE BRONZE MIRROR HAN DYNASTY 206BC - 220AD Of circular form
漢 青銅鏡
A CHINESE BRONZE MIRROR
HAN DYNASTY 206BC - 220AD
Of circular form, the interior decorated in relief with dragon and tiger-like creatures separated by seated figures encircling a central pierced knop, all within borders of semi-circular and square cartouches, the rim with an inscription within concentric bands of sawtooth designs and spirals, 10.3cm.
Cf. J Rawson and E Bunker, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, pp.254-55, nos.174 and 175 for related, larger examples.
The inscription to the rim reads as follows: wu zuo ming jing you lian san shang zhou ke wuji, pei xiang wan jiang, bo ya chen le, zhong shen jian rong bai jing bing cun, fu lü ju cong, tian qi si shou xian chi wei gang, qi shi ming qie zuo, which loosely translates to describe the method of the mirrorsmith and their wishes for happiness and longevity.
銘文：吾作明鏡，幽煉三商，周刻無極，配象萬疆，伯牙陳樂，眾神見容，百精並存，福祿具從，天禽四首，銜持維綱，其師命且作。