Lot 193. A bronze 'Spirits of the Four Directions' mirror, Sui Dynasty.Diameter 4 3/4 in., 12 cm. Estimation 15,000 — 20,000 USD. Unsold. Photo Sotheby's

the pierced central knop cast as a crouching beast, surrounded by the animals of the four directions, dragon, phoenix, tiger and snake-coiled turtle, the outer well with the twelve zodiac animals among clusters of grapes and scrolling vines, the silvered mirror with some green encrustation. 

Provenance: Old Japanese collection, circa 1980, by repute.

Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com