AN UNUSUAL BRONZE CIRCULAR 'LION AND GRAPEVINE' MIRROR

TANG DYNASTY (618-907)

Details

AN UNUSUAL BRONZE CIRCULAR 'LION AND GRAPEVINE' MIRROR
TANG DYNASTY (618-907)
The thin mirror crisply cast in high relief with a crouching lion that forms the knob in the center of six lions shown in various positions amidst scrolling grapevine including one sitting upright and facing outward with left forepaw raised and the other placed on its rear leg, with silvery grey patina
5 7/8 in. (12.5 cm.) diam., 3/16 in. (.4 cm.) thick, box
314.5g

Provenance

Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, 1989.

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Lot Essay

Unlike most mirrors of 'lion and grapevine' type, the decoration fills the entire back of the mirror, rather than the more usual configuration where the decoration is shown in smaller format and divided into inner and outer fields. Compare the similar mirror of slightly smaller size (11.4 cm.) sold at China Guardian, 13 May 2011, lot 945.

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