AN INSCRIBED BRONZE 'TLV' MIRROR, HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC to 220 AD. Of circular form, the back cast in high relief with a central pierced hemispherical knop set within a circle with nine small bosses enclosed by a square, with eight further nipples in the outer field arranged within the T, L, and V motifs and various animals and birds in thread relief, all within a narrow inscribed band, the raised rim with concentric zigzag and dog-tooth borders. Inscribed with a band of characters referring to the twelve animals of the zodiac.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror and wood repository. Dr. Walter Rieder served in the Swiss East Asia Mission (SOAM) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, between October 1930 and December 1951. The mission specialized in educational, literary, and philanthropic work and Dr. Rieder was in fact, not a theologian or missionary, but a teacher of mathematics, physics, and science to high school students attached to the SOAM. His guiding principles were 'Creating understanding between different cultures' and 'Building bridges between East and West'. While in Qingdao, Dr. Rieder collected a wide variety of Chinese art. The objects in the collection thus offer a unique window into the type of antiques that were on the market in Qingdao in the second quarter of the 20th century. As well as demonstrating his passion for Chinese art, his collection also reveals the personal friendships Dr. Rieder forged with local artists, some of whom he knew from his teaching activities. Dr. Rieder had a scholarly approach to studying his collection. Alongside many of his objects, meticulous notes can sometimes be found detailing his art historical commentaries. The collection was hence Dr. Rieder's gateway to the history and culture of China. Objects from the collection were exhibited at the Kunsthaus in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2006 and 2018.
Condition: Fine condition, commensurate with age and as expected for an authentic bronze with an age of ca. 2,000 years. Extensive weathering, wear, corrosion, dents and losses, all visible on the images of this lot. Two of the characters have been highlighted in red lacquer. Fine, naturally grown patina with beautiful malachite encrustation.

Weight: 644.0 g
Dimensions: Diameter 18.9 cm

With an old fitted wood repository. (2)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1130
Price: USD 21,250 or approx. EUR 26,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silvery bronze mirror, Eastern Han dynasty
Expert remark: Note the closely related size (18.7 cm) and design

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 20 March 2015, lot 710
Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 12,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Large Bronze 'Tlv' Circular Mirror, China, Western Han-Xin Dynasty, 1^st Century AD
Expert remark: Note the closely related design and patina as well as the slightly larger size (22.5 cm)


漢代規矩鏡
中國，公元前206年至公元 220年。圓鏡，因鏡紋有規則的TLV形裝飾格式而得名TLV銅鏡。四神獸紋，鏡緣上有多層鋸齒紋和表示十二生肖的文字。方座紐，八乳丁。由於方與圓的對比，形成了一個優美的圖案結構。

來源： Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986)舊藏，在同一家族保存至今。鏡子上有收藏標籤。Dr. Walter Rieder 1930 年 10 月至 1951 年 12 月間在山東青島的瑞士東亞傳道部 (SOAM) 任職。該傳道部專門從事教育、文學和慈善工作，而Rieder博士實際上不是神學家或傳教士，而是一位SOAM 附屬高中的數學、物理和科學教師。他的教育原則是“在不同文化之間建立理解”和“在東西方之間架起橋樑”。在青島期間，Rieder博士收藏了種類繁多的中國藝術品。收藏中的物品為了解二十世紀下半葉青島的古玩類型提供了一個獨特的窗口。他的收藏除了展現他對中國藝術的熱情外，還可從中看出Rieder博士與當地藝術家建立的個人友誼，其中一些藝術家是他從教學活動中認識的。Rieder 博士採用學術方法研究他的收藏。除了他的許多藏品外，有時還可以找到細緻的筆記，詳細介紹其藝術發展史。因此，其收藏成為 Rieder 博士了解中國歷史和文化的窗口。他的收藏曾於 2006 年和 2018年 年在瑞士因特拉肯美術館館展出。 品相：品相良好，與年代相符，正如預期的那樣，其年齡大約為2000 年。大面積風化、磨損、腐蝕、凹痕和缺損。 其中兩個字用紅漆突出。包漿細膩，帶有美麗的綠色銅鏽。

重量：644.0 克
尺寸：直徑18.9 厘米

木質舊盒。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2011年9月15日，lot 1130
價格：USD 21,250（相當於今日EUR 26,000）
描述：東漢鎏銀銅鏡
專家評論：比較非常相近尺寸(18.7 厘米) 和設計。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2015年3月20日，lot 710
價格：USD 11,875（相當於今日EUR 12,900）
描述：西元一世紀西漢至新朝大型規矩銅鏡
專家評論：比較非常相近的設計和包漿，以及尺寸稍大 (22,5 厘米)。