Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 17 May 2018, 10:30 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET
A large bronze 'mythical animals and grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (608-907)
Lot 58. A large bronze 'mythical animals and grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (608-907); 21cm (8 1/4in) diam. Estimate £ 2,000 - 3,000 (€ 2,300 - 3,400). Sold for £ 35,000 (€ 40,068) inc. premium. © Bonhams 2001-2018
Crisply cast with a crouching-lion knop in the centre, surrounded by three lions and three qilin, all amongst fruiting grapevines within a circular border, the concave border containing seated and flying birds as well as lions and beasts also surrounded by grapes and vines, all within a decorative tri-foliate border, fitted box. (2)
Provenance: The Mengdiexuan Collection.
Exhibited: University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Adornment for Body and Soul: Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection, 13 March - 11 August 1999.
Published: Adornment for Body and Soul: Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection, Hong Kong, 1999, p.149, no.50.
Note: A related bronze 'sea beasts and grapes' mirror, Tang dynasty, similarly decorated but smaller in size, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 18-19 March 2014, lot 208.
A bronze 'Sea Beasts and Grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (618-907). Diameter 7 in., 17.7 cm. Sold for 56,250 USD at Sotheby's New York, 18-19 March 2014, lot 208. Photo Sotheby's
Cf. my post: A bronze 'Sea Beasts and Grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (618-907)