A rare silvery bronze circular mirror with zodiac animals. Sui dynasty (581-618). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 Crisply cast in high relief with two feline beasts biting each other's tail as they race around the knob while four animals are shown between...

An unusual bronze circular 'lion and grapevine', mirror. Tang dynasty (618-907). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 The thin mirror crisply cast in high relief with a crouching lion that forms the knob in the center of six lions shown in various positions...

A very rare large parcel-gilt bronze circular mirror. Song Dynasty or later. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 The heavy, thick mirror finely cast with five mythical beasts shown amidst grapevine while a sixth horned, crouching beast forms the knob in...

A bronze circular mirror with two animals and inscription. Sui-Early Tang dynasty, 6th-7th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 The thick mirror finely cast in high relief with five lively animals racing around the knob within a sawtooth border...