Lot 157. A bronze 'TLV' mirror, Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). D. 12 cm. Estimate 600/1.000 €. Lot sold 1.100 €. Courtesy Nagel

the central knob within a square border of eight small nipples, the outer field with 'TLV' pattern, eight nipples and the protecting celestial animals including the turtle intertwined with a snake, a dragon, a tiger, a phoenix, all within narrow bands and hatched lines, and below a dogtooth band and a band of clouds around the rim. Very minor wear, tiny chip to rim, perspex stand.

Provenance: Former property from an old Berlin private collection.

Note: Property from a Bavarian private collection, bought at the Grosvenor Antiques Fair, London in the early 1990s.