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THBLarge Chinese Tang Dynasty Silvered Bronze Mirror
Lot 73b
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,500 - $2,000
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Apr 4, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-04-04 10:00:00
2019-04-04 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic From Around The World
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-from-around-the-world-4003
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (410)
- Lot Description
East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE, probably early in the period, ca. 7th to 8th century CE. A perfectly round mirror made of bronze with a high tin content to give it a silvery appearance. The back is finely decorated with three concentric rings, each containing animal motifs. The outer ring contains the twelve animals of the zodiac, each rendered in nice detail. The middle ring contains floral motifs and animals in a hunt. The central ring, with a bulbous pierced knob at its middle, features the head and upper body of a lion facing off with the head and body of a phoenix. A cord would have been threaded through the knob to make it easier to hold or carry. Analysis of a similar mirror from the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian found traces of silk imprinted upon the back of the mirror, leading researchers there to conclude that these mirrors would have been stored in silk pouches when not in use. Size: 8.75" W (22.2 cm); 10.45" H (26.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Mirrors in ancient China served both practical and spiritual purposes. Bronze mirrors were also luxury goods that would have been expensive to produce and therefore to buy. During the Tang Dynasty, we see the first private workshops beginning, allowing the rising merchant class to purchase mirrors in addition to nobles. When placed in a tomb upon the chest of the deceased, as they often were, they were meant to protect the dead from evil spirits, who were frightened of being seen in reflection. In a similarly symbolic move, women carried "marriage mirrors" on their laps during their wedding procession; these were later hung over the marriage bed to repel evil spirits.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#137182Beautiful condition with mottled pale green patina. Small loss around the opening of the handle.Condition
- Shipping Info
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