Lot 82. A very rare large ‘Mythical Animals and Grapes’ bronze mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HKD 700,000 - HKD 900,000 (USD 90,522 - USD 116,385). © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The thick mirror is finely cast in high relief with six lively mythical animals, including a mythical horse, tianlu and bixie. Each animal is accompanied by its young, galloping above waves and amid grapevines around the central knob in the form of a recumbent toad, within a narrow border of dragonflies and butterflies, and an outer border of pairs of mythical luan birds, phoenixes, peacocks, hoopoes, and all within a border of foliate scrolls at the rim. 10 ½ in. (26.8 cm.) diam., box, 4,125g

Provenance: Galaxie Art & Gift Company, Hong Kong, 15 August 1993

Note: The decorations found on Chinese bronze mirrors are closely related to the cultural, religious and historical context of their periods. During the Tang dynasty, the casting of bronze mirrors was taken to new heights, bringing more elaborate designs that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of Tang society. One example which testifies to such technical dexterity and artistic sophistication is the ‘mythical animals and grapes’ mirror.

The combination of mythical beasts and grapes is one of the most classic design adorning the backs of Tang mirrors. The emergence of this motif can be associated with Manichaeism, the religious belief commonly practiced by the Sogdian communities trading along the Silk Road, which was introduced into China around the reign of Emperor Gaozong (r. 649-683). Mythical sea creatures and grapes had special significance in Manichean iconography. Thus following the growing popularity of Manichaeism in China during the mid Tang era, these two motifs gained prominence in bronze mirror design.

Due to the complexity of the design, in which many of the mythical animals are very difficult to be identified, Japanese scholars have whimsically coined the term ‘Mirror of Enigma’ when referring to this group of ‘mythical animals and grapes’ mirrors.

Mirrors of this type usually vary between 10 to 20 cm. in diameter. The current mirror, with a diameter of 26 cm., represents one of the largest of its type. The depiction of peacocks in the outer band of this mirror is also rarely found amongst related examples. The only other published bronze mirror with a nearly identical design is in the collection of Tadashi Sengoku, illustrated by Junko Namba in Chugoku ocho no, Himeji, 2004, No. 72, which weighs 3,145 grams and measures 26.4 cm. in diameter. It may also be compared to a slightly smaller mirror with a more typical ‘lion and grapevine’ design in the Sumitomo Collection, illustrated in Sen-oku hakuko kan : Sumitomo Collection, Kyoto, 2004, No. 113.

Christie's. The Pavilion Sale - Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 4 April 2017, Hong Kong