An excellent "Lion and Grapevine" mirror, China, Tang dynasty (618-907). Photo Nagel Auktionen

the heavy, excellently and crisply cast mirror is decorated in high relief with four lion-like animals and two peacocks among grapevine in the centre around a large crouching "lion" as knob, enclosed by a band with many different birds, dragonflies and butterflies between grapevine. On the raised, flat border rim a narrow band with small, stylized cloud or flower motifs in relief; the decorated and specular sides are covered with a glossy dark grey patina, very fine condition, diam:14,1 cm - D. 14,1 cm. Estimate 6 000/10 000 €

Provenance: Private collection Rhineland, Germany bought from Christie's, London, 7. June 1993, lot 93 and with further references

Compare: Shanghai Museum (ed.), Ancient bronze mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, No. 86, a similar larger mirror (diam. 20 cm) also with two peacocks and four animals in the centre and on the outer frieze only with birds among the grapevine, dated to Tang dynasty

- H. Brinker, Bronzen aus dem alten China, Zürich 1975, no. 98, a very similar small mirror also with two peacocks and four animals in the centre and similar décor on the frieze, dated to early Tang dynasty.

Nagel Auktionen. 2013/05/08. http://www.auction.de/