A CHINESE SILVERED BRONZE 'LION AND GRAPEVINE' MIRROR

Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 C.E)

唐 狻猊葡萄紋鍍銀銅鏡

The mirror centered with a raised knob in the form of a recumbent beast, surrounded by lions cast in relief, with a pair engaged in combat whilst others prowl amongst scrolling leafy foliage issuing bunches of ripe grapes, a protruding rim separating the central field and an outer band decorated with lions, deer, cranes and soaring phoenixes over undulating leafy stems, the sloped outer rim cast with a band of foliate motifs, the silvery surface with faint patches of malachite green,

16.6cm diameter, weight approx. 1.24kg

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REFERENCE:

For a comparable 'lion and grapevine' bronze mirror, dated to the Tang dynasty, see 'Royal Academy of Arts International Exhibition of Chinese Art', London, 1935, no.669. See another comparable mirror, with similar central and rim designs, housed in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in 'The Palace Museum's Collections of Bronze Mirrors', Beijing, 2008, pl. 33. Also, see three examples with similar decorative themes, but with more lions and mythical beasts, in the Shanghai Museum and illustrated in 'Shanghai Bowuguan cang qingtong jing', Shanghai, 1987, pls. 83-85.

For a similar bronze mirror, also dated to the Tang dynasty, see J. Chou, 'Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors', Cleveland, 2000, no.55, in which the author suggests dating the mirror to the late 7th century, based upon a similar example found in the tomb of Dugu Shizhen, at Xian and dated to 698.

A comparable mirror was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2232, and another in the same rooms on 30th May 2012, lot 4141. Another comparable mirror was sold at Bonhams New Bond Street, 12th May 2022, lot 81.

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