Lot 819. A silvery-bronze square mirror, Song-Jin dynasty, 12th-13th century; 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) square, cloth box. Estimate USD 7,000 – USD 9,000. Price realised USD 32,760. © Christie's 2023

One side is cast with a scholar playing the flute opposite a seated tiger holding a wine cup, with a gourd-shaped wine jar between them, all below a five-character inscription reading jie shi ming ru jing (the regional military governor is honorable and incorruptable). The reverse is plain and the silvery surface has areas of green encrustation. There are a few indecipherable characters later-carved on the left side of the flat border.

Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 3289.

Note: For other bronze mirrors with similar carved inscriptions, see Sha Yuanzhang, “Discussion on the Ancient Chinese Registration System and the Nüzhen Tribe Meng’an mouke System,” in the Chinese periodical Chinese Bronze Mirrors, 2015, No. 6, pp. 24-33.

Christie's. J. J. Lally & Co., New York, 23.03.2023