A BRONZE ‘LION AND GRAPEVINE’ MIRROR, FIVE DYNASTIES China, 907-979. Of circular form, the back cast in high relief in the center with a crouching beast-form loop surrounded by four lions amid grapevines, and in the outer field with birds and fruiting grapevines below a narrow border of florets.

Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Fine malachite-green patina to one side and some areas in the center to the other side.
Provenance: Ex-Collection Wachter. A certificate of authenticity, confirming the dating above, written in February 2011 by Dr. Wolfgang Merkel, a German art historian, accompanies this lot.

Weight: 205.2 g
Dimensions: Diameter 9 cm

Auction result comparison: A related mirror from the Tang dynasty was sold by Christie’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 19-20 September 2013, lot 1481, for USD $12,500.