A SILVERY BRONZE 'LION AND GRAPEVINE' MIRROR, TANG DYNASTY China, 618-907. Of circular form, the back cast in high relief, the center with a crouching beast-form loop surrounded by four lions amid grape bunches and vines, the outer field with birds and fruiting grapevines below a narrow border of florets.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror. A copy of an old handwritten note by Dr. Walter Rieder, dating the mirror to the Tang dynasty and describing the motifs, accompanies this lot. 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, the silvering still quite well preserved. Extensive wear, some weathering, nicks and small losses, minor corrosion. Fine, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite encrustation.

Weight: 362.5 g
Dimensions: Diameter 9.5 cm

With an old circular painted cardboard box and cover. (2)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's, 22 March 2013, lot 1154
Price: USD 15,000 or approx. EUR 18,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small silvery bronze 'lion and grapevine' mirror, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related design. Note the similar size (11.7 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1142
Price: USD 47,500 or approx. EUR 56,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze 'lion and grapevine' mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related design and similar malachite patina. Note the significantly larger size (17.7 cm).



唐代海獸葡萄鎏銀銅鏡
中國，618-907年。銅鏡圓形，厚重，高浮雕葡萄紋，間飾四隻海獸。分作內外兩圈，外圈飾鳥雀、蜂蝶、花草等圖案，華麗而繁縟。獸形鈕。

來源：Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986)舊藏，在同一家族保存至今。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：品相極好，與年代相符，鎏銀仍保存完好。大面積磨損，一些風化，刻痕和小缺損，輕微腐蝕。細膩的包漿，大面積綠色結殼。

重量：362.5 克
尺寸：直徑9.5 厘米

舊圓形彩繪紙蓋盒。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：佳士得，2013年3月22日，lot 1154
價格：USD 15,000 （相當於今日EUR 18,000）
描述：唐代獅子葡萄鎏銀銅鏡
專家評論：比較非常相近的設計。請注意尺寸相近 (11.7 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年3月22日，lot 1142
價格：USD 47,500（相當於今日EUR 56,500）
描述：唐代獅子葡萄銅鏡
專家評論：比較非常相近的設計和綠色結殼。請注意尺寸較大(17.7 厘米)。