AN OCTAFOIL SILVERED BRONZE ‘BIRDS AND FLOWERS’ MIRROR, TANG DYNASTY China, 618-907. Finely cast in relief with four birds in flight separated by sprigs of flowers encircling a pierced knob modeled as a crouching beast. The raised border cast with floral sprays and butterflies within its octafoil edge.

Provenance: From an English private collection.
Condition: Overall good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear and casting irregularities, signs of weathering and erosion, few small nicks and light scratches. Fine, naturally grown patina with areas of malachite, azurite and cuprite encrustation.

Weight: 355.4 g
Dimensions: Diameter 11.5 cm

Literature comparison: A closely related mirror is illustrated in the exhibition catalog by Uragami Sokyu-do, Bronze Mirrors from Sui to Tang Dynasty, Tokyo, 10 November 2010, cat. no. 62, and was later offered at Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2014, lot 198, at an estimate of USD 8,000-12,000.

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related mirror, also dated to the Tang dynasty and of similar form and design, but of slightly larger size (13.3 cm wide) and cast with phoenixes and mythical beasts, at Sotheby’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art on 18 March 2014, lot 195, sold for USD 18,750.


唐代鎏銀花鳥紋銅鏡
中國，618-907年。精美浮雕，八瓣銅鏡，鏡鈕如俯臥的瑞獸，四周四隻飛鳥與纏枝花紋以及蝴蝶。

來源：英國私人收藏。
品相：整體狀況好，與年齡相稱。有磨損和鑄造不規則、風化和侵蝕的跡象，少量小刻痕和輕微劃痕。包漿自然細膩，有藍綠色和赤色結殼。

重量：355.4 克
尺寸：直徑11.5 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近唐代銅鏡，尺寸稍大 (寬13.3 厘米)，鳳凰瑞獸紋，見紐約蘇富比Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 2014年3月18日 lot 195, 售價USD 18,750。