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THBStunning Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze Mirror - Animals
Lot 71
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:
$3,000 - $4,500
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Bid Increments
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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
Jan 10, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-01-10 10:00:00
2019-01-10 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic Winter Variety
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-asian-ethnographic-winter-variety-3780
Travel the world & back in time... Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine Art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Travel the world & back in time... Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine Art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (376)
- Lot Description
China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. An incredible bronze mirror, cast with an amazing relief design of animals and Chinese characters. A rounded knob in the center forms a handle, which is pierced through so that a cord could be attached to it. The animals around it are a deer with enormous horns and a saddle, an elephant, a tiger, and what appears to be the mythological phoenix; they chase each other. Flame-like raised outlines echo their shapes on the outer rim. The other side is a reflective surface, heavy polished and smoothed flat. Size: 7.4" W (18.8 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. The presence of the phoenix in the animal design may mean that this was a mirror given to a bride and later hung on the marriage bed, as the phoenix was a good omen for marriages.
Provenance: Ex-Private Ventura County, CA 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.
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#118368Slight areas of encrusted patina near edges, especially on back.Condition
- Shipping Info
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