Asian Art I - 20th May 2015
Lot 164
A CHINESE BRONZE MIRROR HAN DYNASTY 206BC - 220AD Of circular form
Estimate £8,000 - £12,000
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Description
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.