A small lion and grapevine mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate 600/1000 €. Unsold  Photo Nagel

the very heavy mirror is well cast in high relief with five lion- or marten-like animals among grapevine in the centre around a crouching, fat dog- or cat-like beast as knob, enclosed by a band with numerous birds and other animals between grapevine and a smaller, lightly inclined band with a continuous flowery garland on the border; the bronze surface is covered with a thick, dark grey corrosion with some malachite green encrustation and occasionally tiny silvery shiny spots, where the corrosion has split off. The specular side is equally covered with a thick layer of dark grey corrosion with areas of iron oxide and malachite green encrustation with one larger and several small patches of the silvery shiny original surface; the corroded surface of the mirror will show after careful cleaning its original good condition. D. 13,6 cm

Property from an old Bavarian private collection, collection by the previous owner in China in the early 20th ct.

Note: Cf. Nakano, Toru, Bronze mirrors from ancient China, Donald H. Graham Jr. Collection, Hong Kong: Orientations, 1994, cat. nos. 79-81, three identical, larger mirrors with similar décor - Shanghai Museum (ed.), Ancient bronze mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, no. 88

NAGEL. "Asian Art". Sale 722, 06/06/2015