Lot 208. A bronze 'Sea Beasts and Grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (618-907). Diameter 7 in., 17.7 cm. Estimate 30,000 — 50,000 USD. Lot sold 56,250 USD. Photo Sotheby's

cast in relief with a crouching sea beast knob encircled with grape vines and six further beasts, the outer field with beasts and birds among vine scrolls, all below a band of scrolls around the rim, with bright silver patina. 

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

Exposition: Uragami Sokyu-do Co., Ltd., Bronze Mirrors from Sui to Tang Dynasty, Tokyo, 10th October 2010, cat. no. 25.

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