A rare bronze square mirror. Tang dynasty (618-907). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

With rounded corners, the knob encircled by a flower head and flanked by two female celestial beings shown floating while holding an oil lamp in each hand below a pavilion flanked by clouds, with further clouds and a mountain rising from the sea below, with silvery grey patina and areas of malachite encrustation; 6¼ in. (15.9 cm.) square, 1/8 in. (.3 cm.) thick, box - 417g. Estiimate $30,000 - $50,000 

唐 飛仙樓閣紋鍍銀方銅鏡

Provenance: Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, 1990. 

Notes: Apsaras or (tian ren), are celestial beings or angels associated with Buddhism and are depicted in flight or floating 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, apsaras became known as tian ren, as they wore scarves of five colors which blew in the wind. 

Christies. Luminous Perfection: Fine Chinese Mirrors from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, 22 March 2012, New York, Rockefeller Plaza