Lot 1255. Two bronze circular mirrors, Warring States Period-Western Han dynasty (475 BC-8 AD); 7½ and 6 5/8 in. (19 and 16.8 cm.) diam. Estimate $3,000 - $5,000. Price Realized $35,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.

The larger well cast with triple fluted knob surrounded by a patterned ground repeated in the outer field as the ground for three dragons with large heads and interlocking scrolling bodies; the other with a large knob encircled by nine nipples separating characters of an inscription, within decorative borders, the outer field with seven nipples separating various animals and birds as well as a Daoist immortal, within further decorative borders.

Provenance: Acquired prior to 2000.

Lot 1256. Three bronze 'TLV' circular mirrors, Western Han dynasty (206 BC-8 AD); 5 1/8, 6¼ and 4 5/16 in. (13, 16 and 11 cm.) diam. (3). Estimate $5,000 - $7,000. Price Realized $17,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.

Of various sizes, all with the central knob within a square, and the outer field with eight nipples arranged around the T, L and V motifs: on the first are various animals and birds cast in thread relief and an outer hatchured border; on the second there are also various animals and birds in thread relief encircled by an inscription and a hatchured border, below dogtooth and zigzag bands on the rim; the third has slender foliate scrolls, within a hatchured border and below a zigzag band on the rim.

Provenance: Acquired prior to 2000.

Lot 1268. A silvery grey bronze eight-lobed mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907); Estimate $3,000 - $5,000. Price Realized $8,125. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.

The central knob flanked by two parrots with backward-turned heads grasping flower sprigs in their beaks, with a mandarin duck nestled within a lotus leaf above the knob and a lotus flower borne on twin roots below, with insects alternating with flower sprigs in the eight lobes of the rim, with malachite encrustation.

Provenance: Acquired prior to 2000.

Lot 1268. A silvery bronze 'Lion and Grapewine' circular mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907); 4 7/8 in. (12.3 cm.) diam. Estimate $10,000 - USD 15,000. Price Realized $50,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.

Crisply cast, the central knob formed as a crouching animal encircled by five lions frolicking amidst grapevine within a raised border, the outer field with various birds and insects in flight amidst further grapevine below a band of detached clouds, with some malachite encrustation, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Acquired in Japan in the 1970s.

Lot 1271. A silvery grey bronze eight-lobed mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907); 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm.) diam. Estimate $3,000 - $5,000. Price Realized $5,625. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.

The central knob surrounded by a pair of phoenixes to the sides and two florets above and below, with small flower sprigs and insects alternating in the lobed rim.

Provenance: Todd collection.
Rare Art, New York, early 1980s.
European private collection.

Lot 1272. Three bronze circular mirrors, Sui-Tang dynasty, 6th-8th century; 3 5/8, 6 and 3¾ in. (9.2, 15.2 and 9.5 cm.) diam. (3). Estimate $4,000 - $6,000. Price Realized $40,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.

One cast with four animals racing around the central knob, within a raised border and an inscription in the outer field, below dogtooth and scallop borders; the largest with a band of tiny bosses encircling the knob, in the outer field four masks face the center as two pairs of different types of dragons stride amidst clouds and foliate scrolls, within scroll and dogtooth borders; the third cast in high relief with 'lion and grapevine' decoration, the knob formed as a crouching animal surrounded by four lions with raised heads, with various birds and ducks in the outer field, all amidst fruiting grapevine below clouds at the rim.

Provenance: Acquired prior to 2000. 

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, 24 March 2011, New York, Rockefeller Plaza