EASTERN HAN DYNASTY/THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD, 2ND-3RD CENTURY

Compare two mirrors of this type, which had also been gilded, illustrated in Ancient Chinese Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 198-9, no. 62 (14.1 cm.) and pp. 202-3, no. 64 (17.4 cm.), where it is noted that a bronze mirror with a similar pattern and inscription was excavated in 1965 from an Eastern Han tomb in Majiagudui, Shou county, Anhui province. Another excavated in 1971 from tomb site 544 at E'cheng, Hubei province, which also has a design inscribed on the knob and has remains of gilding, is illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji - 16 - Bronze Mirrors, Beijing, 1998, p. 101, no. 99, where it is dated Southern Dynasties. See, also, the gilded mirror of this type and size from the Sze Yuan Tang Collection sold in these rooms, 16 September 2000, lot 864.