West to Central Asia, Islamic/Persian, Seljuk culture, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. A wonderful cast leaded bronze mirror of a discoid form with a pair of addorsed sphinxes within the tondo. The flat mirror has a raised peripheral ridge that encloses a ring of Kufic script as well as a central floral bulb with a laterally perforated suspension hole. Each abstract zoomorph is defined by a feminine face atop a muscular, feline body with a sinuous tail, all enveloped in scrolling floral motifs. Size: 4.2" Diameter x 0.5" H (10.7 cm x 1.3 cm)

Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 15.43.285. A nearly identical bronze mirror hammered for 1,375 British sterling (equivalent to about $1625.78) at Christie's London as lot 709 on April 26th, 2012 (live auction 4914).

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000.

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#146630

Slight bending to rim. Some features have smoothed with time but motifs are still present and generally clear. Rich, dark patina on all surfaces.