A SILVERY BRONZE 'TLV' MIRROR, HAN DYNASTYChina, 2nd-1st century BC. Of circular form, the central knop set within a square border from which project four 'T' motifs flanked by pointed nipples and positioned below 'L' motifs alternating with 'V' motifs incorporated into a band of archaistic beasts executed in thread relief, all encircled by a hachured border below sawtooth bands and scrolls on the rim.Provenance: French trade, acquired from a French private collection built between ca. 1980 and 2012. Two old labels to the base ‘3310 02’ and ‘Han-China21EVC-22ENC’.Condition: Excellent condition,mensurate with age and as expected for an authentic bronze with an age of ca. 2,000 years. Few signs of weathering, little wear, minor corrosion, and small nicks. Fine, silvery-gray patina with traces of malachite encrustation.Weight: 632 gDimensions: Diameter 13.1 cmMounted on a modern metal stand. (2)Expert’s note: The decoration on this TLV mirror and others like it is now believed to be derived from the layout of Qin and Han dynasty liubo game boards. Liubo was an ancient Chinese board game played by two players. The game rapidly declined in popularity after the Han dynasty and eventually became entirely forgotten. Knowledge of the game has increased in recent years with archeological discoveries of Liubo game boards and game equipment in ancient tombs, as well as discoveries of Han dynasty picture stones and picture bricks depicting Liubo players.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 16 September 2014, lot 128Price: USD 18,750 or approx.EUR 21,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A bronze 'TLV' mirror, Han dynastyExpert remark:pare the closely related motif and patina. Note the slightly larger size (16.5 cm).Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1139Price: USD 21,250 or approx.EUR 24,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A bronze 'TLV' mirror, Western Han dynastyExpert remark:pare the related motif and patina. Note the much larger size (20.6 cm).漢代鎏銀銅鏡中國，公元前二至一世紀。圓形銅鏡，半球鈕，四瓣葉形鈕座。鏡背飾以大方廓與博局紋，均由中央微凹之小寬條構成；博局紋與大方廓間夾有細陽線構成之動物紋，方廓四邊外各飾以枚乳丁。博局紋外靠鏡緣接一圈三角形鋸齒紋，靠鏡緣有如波浪形紋飾，鏡緣寬平略高於內區。