Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York | 19 mars 2013
A bronze 'Cao Ye' mirror, Han dynasty
Lot 3. A bronze 'Cao Ye' mirror, Han dynasty. Estimate 2,000-3,000 USD. Lot sold 4,375 USD. Photo Sotheby's
the domed boss enclosed by four trefoils extending to the corners of a square border cast with eight characters reading jian ri zhi ming, chang le wei ying(Seeing the light of the sun, brings everlasting joy), surrounded by a ring with four bosses alternating with stylized tree motifs and trefoils with concave leaves, all set within a raised scalloped border around the rim, the silvery-gray patina with patches of green encrustation, Japanese wood box (4); Diameter 5 1/2 in., 14 cm.
PROVENANCE: Kitayama Fine Arts, Tokyo, acquired in the 1970s.
NOTE: A mirror of the same size and pattern from the Swedish Royal Collections is illustrated by Karlgren, 'Early Chinese Mirrors', B.M.F.E.A. Stockholm, no. 40, 1968, pl. 102, no. K 11, together with another of slightly smaller size, no. K 12.