A BRONZE OCTAFOIL 'HUNTING' MIRROR

Details

A BRONZE OCTAFOIL 'HUNTING' MIRROR
TANG DYNASTY

The center cast in high relief with a crouching animal which forms the loop, surrounded by two archers seated astride galloping horses as they pursue a fleeing deer and antelope, the scene interspersed with cloud wisps, all below further vaporous clouds alternating with budding sprigs on the rim within the raised petal-lobed outer border, the plain reverse with reflective surface, both sides with a silvery patina
5in. (12.7cm.) across, box

Lot Essay

For a number of closely related mirrors, though each differing slightly in either the central knop, hunting-subject or border, see Leigh Ashton & Basil Gray, Chinese Art, London, 1935, pp.146-147, no. 52a, (from the Louvre Museum, Paris), where it is suggested that the hunting scene (boar and lion) probably derives from the well-known Bahram Gur motif of Sassanian silver; René-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé, Chinese Treasures from the Avery Brundage Collection, New York, 1968, pp. 46-47, no. 34. See, also, an example sold in our London rooms, December 10, 1990, lot 32