An inscribed 'Mythical Beasts' bronze mirror, Sui Dynasty. Photo Sotheby's

cast in the central field with four mythical beasts encircling the pierced knob, the outer field cast with a twenty-character inscription, all within narrow dogtooth borders, the silvered surface with green and brown encrustation. Diameter 4 3/4 in., 12 cm. Estimation 10,000 — 15,000 USD

Provenance: Old Japanese collection, circa 1980, by repute.

Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com