A magnificent and exceptionally rare silvery bronze octalobed mirror with cranes from the Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate: $100,000-150,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

NEW YORK, NY.- On March 22, Christie’s will present the sale of Luminous Perfection: Fine Chinese Mirrors from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection. Prominent dealer, collector, and author Robert H. Ellsworth is a legendary figure in the field of Asian art. He began to collect Chinese bronze mirrors more than sixty years ago when there were relatively few references available to him. Regardless, Ellsworth was able to amass a superb collection of rare and important mirrors that span more than 2,000 years from the Warring States period (475-221 BC) through the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Comprising 70 lots, the sale is expected to realize in excess of $1.2 million and will be led by a magnificent and exceptionally rare silvery bronze octalobed mirror with cranes from the Tang dynasty (618-907) (estimate: $100,000-150,000)

Fashioned from a high tin-content bronze to produce a bright, silvery patina, these mirrors often bear exquisitely cast designs while the reverse side is polished to a reflective surface. Unlike their European counterparts, the Chinese mirror features a central perforated knob through which a cord would be strung for handling purposes. The designs range from abstract, geometric patterns to elaborate figural scenes, and often incorporate poetic inscriptions that refer to the moon, alluding to the mirrors’ luminous nature.

Highlights from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection 

A magnificent and exceptionally rare silvery bronze octalobed mirror with cranes from the Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate: $100,000-150,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Of kuihua (sunflower) shape, finely cast in relief with a pair of cranes standing with heads turned beneath clouds flanking a third cloud above the central knob, while a further vaporous cloud issues from the mountains belowj 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm.) across, 3/16 in. (.4 cm.) thick, box - 1334.7g

唐 雙鶴江崖海水紋葵花式鍍銀銅鏡

Provenance: A.W. Bahr (1877-1959).

Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired from Edna Bahr, Connecticut, late 1960s

Notes: No other mirror of this rare design appears to be published. Like other finely cast mirrors of this large size, this magnificent mirror would have made an appropriate wedding gift, as a pair of cranes represents a wish for a long marriage. Marriage mirrors are more likely to be decorated with a pair of phoenixes combined with other motifs, and the depiction of a pair of cranes appears to be very rare. 

A Rare Bronze Circular ‘Shan’ Mirror Late Warring States period, 4th-3rd century BC Estimate: $10,000 – 15,000.  Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Thinly cast, the back with a ribbed central loop encircled by a concave band and crisply cast in the outer field with three large shan characters alternating with two deer and a dog wearing a collar, all reserved on a ground of hooked feather-like scrolls and granulation, with silvery grey patina; 4 7/8 in. (12.2 cm.) diam., 1/16 in. (.2 cm.) thick, box - 157.2g 

戰國晚期 三山紋銅鏡

Provenance: A.W. Bahr (1877-1959).

Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired from Edna Bahr, Connecticut, 1960s.  

Notes: This style of mirror, with its use of the plain shan or T-shapes superimposed on a patterned ground, is typical of those from the Chu region of Hunan and Hubei provinces during the Warring States period. Here the shan characters are combined with two deer and a dog wearing a collar, the latter perhaps alluding to hunting. A similar mirror (20.cm.) in a Paris collection is illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji - 16 - Bronze Mirrors, Beijing, 1998, p. 21, no. 21. Another similar mirror in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities is illustrated by B. Karlgren, "Early Chinese Bronze Mirrors: Classification Scheme Recapitulated," BMFEA, Stockholm, 1968, No. 40, pl. 22 (C 55), and again by D.M. O'Donoghue in "Reflection and Reception: The Origins of the Mirror in Bronze Age China," BMFEA, Stockholm, 1990, No. 62, p. 166, Fig. 64. See, also, the mirror of this type, with four shan characters alternating with four deer, illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 76-7, no. 3.  

A Large Silvery Bronze Circular ‘TVL’ Mirror With Inscription Late Western Han-Xin dynasty, 1st century BC Estimate: $60,000-80,000.. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The central knob rising from an ornate quatrefoil within a square enclosing twelve small nipples alternating with twelve characters representing the Twelve Branches, the main field with somewhat abbreviated TLV patterns as well as eight nipples separating the Guardians of the Four Directions - the Blue Dragon, Red Bird, White Tiger and the Dark Warrior - as well as other figures of animals and birds cast in thread relief, all within an inscription expressing Daoist concepts, a hatchured band, and bands of sawtooth and flowing cloud design on the rim; 12½ in. (31.7 cm.) diam., ¼ in. (.5 cm.) thick, box - 3520.6g 

西漢晚期/新 上太山銘四神博局鍍銀銅鏡

Provenance: Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, 1989.  

Notes: The decoration on this elaborate TLV mirror, which is unusually large for its type, is derived from the layout of Qin and Han dynasty luibo game boards. The decoration is similar to that seen on smaller mirrors, one of which bears the same thirty-three character inscription, and is illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 164-5, no. 45. Another similar mirror of smaller size (21 cm.) with the same ornate quatrefoil surround for the knob is in the Sumitomo Collection and illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, Chinese Bronze Mirrors, Sen-Oku Hakuko Kan, 8 January - 6 March 2011, p. 25, no. 37. See, also, the smaller example in the Lagrelius Collection, Stockholm, illustrated by B. Karlgren, "The Exhibition of Early Chinese Bronzes", BMFEA, Stockholm, 1934, No. 6, pl. LII (1). One with silvery patina (18.9 cm.) is illustrated by Toru Nakano et al., Bronze Mirrors from Ancient China: Donald H. Graham Jr. Collection, 1994, pp. 140-1.  

An Unusual Bronze Circular Mirror With Deities, Beasts And Inscription Sui dynasty (581-618) Estimate: $40,000-60,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

The knob encircled by a narrow 'egg and dart' border, and an octagonal band enclosing scroll-flanked characters which overlays the spokes of the eight radiating panels enclosing two seated deities, two bixie and the animals of the Four Directions, the Blue Dragon, Red Bird, White Tiger and the Dark Warrior, within an outer band of semi-circles, foliate motifs and two squares enclosing characters, all below an inscription, a band of the animals of the zodiac and other animals, and a band of flat-cast scroll decoration on the rim, with grey patina and some malachite and ferrous encrustation; 9 3/8 in. (24 cm.) ; iam., 5/16 in. (.8 cm.) thick, box - 2013.1g 

隋 淮南起照銘十二生肖紋銅鏡

Provenance: A.W. Bahr (1877-1959).

Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired from Edna Bahr, Connecticut, late 1960s.  

Notes: A very similar mirror excavated in 1978 at Yongshou, Shaanxi province, and now at the Shaanxi History Museum, is illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji - 16 - Bronze Mirrors, Beijing, 1998, p. 105, no. 103. Another from the Winthrop Collection is illustrated in Sen-Oku Sei-Sho(The Collection of Old Bronzes of Baron Sumitomo), Kyoto, 1934, plate opposite p. 164 (fig. 6).  

A Rare Bronze Square Mirror With Apsaras Tang dynasty (618-907) Estimate: $25,000-35,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

 Finely and unusually cast with two apsaras or celestial beings shown with trailing scarves and sashes as they fly amidst vaporous clouds between a phoenix and a crane, with silvery grey patina, 4¾ in. (12 cm.) square, 3/16 (.4 cm.) in. thick, box - 511g 

唐 飛仙鳳鶴紋方銅鏡

Provenance: A.W. Bahr (1877-1959).

Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired from Edna Bahr, Connecticut, late 1960s. 

Notes: The decoration on this mirror is extremely rare. Apsaras (tianren), are celestial beings or angels associated with Buddhism and are usually depicted in flight wearing garments and scarves that trail behind them. According to Fang Jing Pei, Symbols and Rebuses in Chinese Art, Berkeley/Toronto, 2004, p. 14, when Buddhism was introduced to China from India, apsarasbecame known as tianren, as they wore scarves of five colors which blew in the wind. The crane is a symbol of longevity, and also represents high rank, and when shown in flight represents a wish for a rise in rank. The phoenix is also a symbol of longevity and may also represent prosperity and great blessings.  

A Rare Large Bronze Octalobed Mirror Tang dynasty (618-907) Estimate: $60,000-80,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012  

Of kuihua (sunflower) shape, finely cast in relief with a pair of prancing horses flanking the domed knob above which flies a parrot grasping a leafy grapevine stem in its beak, a similar type of stem is carried in the beak of a ribbon-tailed bird in flight below, all within a circular border that forms the raised inner edge of the outer lobed band decorated with alternating birds and clouds, the reverse finely engraved with Sakyamuni seated on a lotus with right hand raised inabhaya mudra, with silvery grey patina; 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm.) across, 3/16 in. (.5 cm.) thick, box  - 1277.2g 

唐 天馬鸚鵡紋葵花式銅鏡

Provenance: Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, 1992.  

Notes: The inclusion of the pair of horses appears to be very rare, and they probably represent a married couple, as the fruiting grapevine stems carried in the beaks of the two birds symbolize a wish for abundance, both of many sons and wealth. The ribbon-tailed bird is a symbol of longevity. A pair of horses prancing atop blossoms borne on conjoined leafy stems can be seen on an octalobed mirror of comparable size (Fig. 1) illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 232-3, no. 78, where it is noted that according to textual accounts, horses had been trained to perform in the palace as entertainment for the emperor. This same decoration is seen on another mirror in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Bronze Articles for Daily Use, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 197, no.174. On both of these latter mirrors there is a pair of geese grasping stems of lotus leaves in flight above the knob, and this motif is known aswuma shuangyan ('dancing horses and wild geese').  

A Silvery Bronze Circular Mirror With Twin Carp Jin dynasty (1115-1234) Estimate: $10,000-15,000.  Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012  

 Heavily cast in high relief with two carp swimming atop a ground of waves, their large twisting bodies filling almost the entire space surrounding the knob, the rim inscribed with four characters, Tiancheng [] []; 7 5/8 in. (19.3 cm.) diam., 5/16 in. (.9 cm.) thick, box - 1758.8g 

金 雙鯉紋鍍銀銅鏡

Provenance: Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, 1989.  

Notes: Compare the related mirror of comparable size illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 350-1, no. 136. The knob on the Shanghai mirror centers a flower head and the two carp are set farther away from the knob, and the line of their lower body is straight creating an almost square area around the knob. The fish on the present mirror appear more naturalistic in their twisting movement and outline. See, also, the similar mirror illustrated by Ju-hsi Chou in Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors, The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2000, p. 89, no. 86, where the author notes that mirrors of this type are prevalent in "northern provinces such as Jilin, Hebei, Shaanxi and Henan." He also mentions that the twin fish motif is typical during the Jin dynasty, and was probably based on the same design on Song dynasty mirrors. 

Auction: Luminous Perfection: Fine Chinese Mirrors from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection March 22 at 2 pm

Viewing: Christie’s Rockefeller Galleries March 16-22 behind them.