Lot 184. A bronze mirror with deities and inscriptions, Eastern Han Dynasty. Width of widest 4 5/8 in., 12 cm. Estimate 5,000 — 7,000 USD. Lot sold 4,375 USD. Photo Sotheby's 2014

finely cast around the central knob with winged Immortals interspersed with four striding bixie, set with evenly spaced recessed roundels to receive gemstones, encircled by a band of seal faces forming a poetic inscription, alternating with half-disc sun whorls, further enclosed by a border of poetic inscription and stylized cloud scrolls to the rim; together with two small bronze mirrors decorated with nipples alternating with stylized animal motifs (3). 

Provenance: Two smaller mirrors:
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. B. d'Ancona, acquired prior to 1951.

Exhibited: Two smaller mirrors:
An Exhibition of Chinese Mirrors, The Chinese Art Society of America, New York, 1951, cat. no. 5.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York, 18 march 2014