MID-LATE EASTERN HAN DYNASTY, LATE 2ND-EARLY 3RD CENTURY

It is very possible that the eight circular cells were once inlaid with semi-precious or hard stones. A similar mirror of comparable size is illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 198-9, no. 62, where one can see that it had been gilded. Another similar mirror of comparable size but with a narrow band of different scroll on the rim, which is also gilded, from the Sze Yuan Tang Collection was sold in these rooms, 16 September 2010, lot 864. See, also, the similar mirror of the same size illustrated by T. Nakano et al., Bronze Mirrors from Ancient China: Donald H. Graham Jr. Collection, 1994, pp. 182-3, no. 62.