East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A fantastic tinned-bronze mirror of discoid form with an intricate relief on its verso featuring a swirling phytomorphic motif with an interior circle of 4 lions and outside ring containing several birds. The handle presents as a rounded knob in the form of a zoomorph at the center, which is pierced through so that a cord could be attached to it, surrounded by a raised, circular border. The other side is a reflective surface, heavily polished and smoothed flat. A mirror this fine would have belonged to the upper ranks of Han Chinese society, who would have fit a cord through the handle and carried it within a sleeve. Size: 4.4" in diameter (11.2 cm)

Bronze mirrors have a long history in China - the oldest known comes from a tomb dated to ca. 2100 to 1600 BCE. By the Han Dynasty, mirrors like this one were hugely popular, and were being produced in workshops at various regional centers in order to keep up with the demand from members of the royal court, court officials, and regional government workers. Mirrors like this one were expensive, and only owned by elites in the society. The cast inscription around the body of this one dates it to ca. 200 BCE and the Western Han period; it is meant to bring good fortune to the living and, when placed in a grave, to keep evil spirits away from the dead. A mirror like this one would have been used both for utilitarian purposes - starting fires and seeing one's reflection - and for spiritual - to see invisible spirits.

Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired 1980s to 2000s

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#167366

Expected abrasions and softening of detail, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with lovely patina in areas and nice encrustations throughout.