A bronze 'Mythical Beasts' mirror with inscription, Sui dynasty
A bronze 'Mythical Beasts' mirror with inscription, Sui dynasty. Estimation 5,000 — 7,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's.
cast with a central hemispherical knob enclosed by an octagonal frame, and six compartments each with a mythical beast, along the outer band an inscription written in kaishu style - Diameter 7 1/4 in., 18.4 cm
Provenance: Private Asian collection, circa 1980-90, by repute.
Notes: Translation of the inscription:
A coiling dragon decorates the fine (mirror) box, and a new (mirror) stand painted with dancing phoenix. When the mirror is out, like a fabulous bird being disturbed and landscape appears, the sun shines and flowers blossom. (The mirror) is as round as a turning jade bi-disc, as the full moon cycling back. Its elegant shape reflects profundity, revealing the gall bladder and its great brightness comes through
Sotheby's. Inscriptions: History as Art New York, 17 mars 2015, 01:30 PM