A gilt-bronze circular mirror with deities and beasts. Eastern Han dynasty- Three Kingdoms period, 2nd-3rd century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The knob incised with a tiger, the main field finely cast in high relief with two seated deities flanked by four mythical beasts and with domed circular cells, within a band of decorated semi-circles alternating with squares enclosing characters, below a hatchured band in the well and a band of animals and a band of linked lozenges joined by scrollwork on the rim, with traces of gilding; 5 5/8 in. (14.2 cm) diam., 3/16 in. (.4 cm.) thick, box - 392.5g  Estimate $15,000 - $18,000

東漢/三國 鎏金神人神獸紋銅鏡

Provenance: Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, 1998. 

Notes: Compare two mirrors of this type, which had also been gilded, illustrated in Ancient Chinese Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 198-9, no. 62 (14.1 cm.) and pp. 202-3, no. 64 (17.4 cm.), where it is noted that a bronze mirror with a similar pattern and inscription was excavated in 1965 from an Eastern Han tomb in Majiagudui, Shou county, Anhui province. Another excavated in 1971 from tomb site 544 at E'cheng, Hubei province, which also has a design inscribed on the knob and has remains of gilding, is illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji - 16 - Bronze Mirrors, Beijing, 1998, p. 101, no. 99, where it is dated Southern Dynasties. See, also, the gilded mirror of this type and size from the Sze Yuan Tang Collection sold in these rooms, 16 September 2000, lot 864. 

Christie's. Luminous Perfection: Fine Chinese Mirrors from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection , 22 March 2012, New York, Rockefeller Plaza