Lot 1138. Two bronze circular 'TLV' mirrors, Western Han-Xin dynasty (206 BC-AD 23); 6 1/16, 6¾ and 5 1/16 in. (15.5, 17 and 14 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. Price Realised USD 7,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2013

One has a silvery patina and a central square enclosing six nipples alternating with characters surrounded by four pairs of nipples flanking birds within a configuration of 'TLV' motifs to form four quadrants within a hatchured border in the outer field below sawtooth bands on the wide rim. The second is larger, but of similar type, and rather than just birds is cast in thread relief with various animals and birds encircled by an inscription and hatchured border below a sawtooth border and band of mythical beings and creatures on the wide rim. Together with a circular bronze mirror, Western Han dynasty, which has a knob that rises from the body of a tortoise encircled by raised borders, an inscription, and a band of birds and a crouching figure cast in thread relief. (3)

Provenance: Raymond A. Bidwell (1876-1954) Collection.
The Springfield Museums, Springfield, Massachusetts, accessioned in 1962.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 21 - 22 March 2013, New York, Rockefeller Plaza