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Two bronze mirrors, mid-late eastern Han dynasty, 2nd-3rd Century AD.

Estimate
15 000 - 20 000 SEK
1 340 - 1 790 EUR
1 420 - 1 890 USD
Hammer price
9 500 SEK
Purchasing info
For condition report contact specialist
Cecilia Nordström
Stockholm
Cecilia Nordström
Head Specialist Asian Ceramics and Works of Art, European Ceramics and Glass
+46 (0)739 40 08 02
Two bronze mirrors, mid-late eastern Han dynasty, 2nd-3rd Century AD.

The knob encircled by mythical beasts, within a band of plain semi-circles alternating with squares enclosing characters, with blackish-grey patina, green encrustation. Diameter 12,6-16,8 cm.

Tarnished. Hole.

Provenance

From the Collection of antique dealer Sten Röing (1880-1965), the collection was added to by his son Max Röing (1916-1984) during the 1950-60's, thence by descent.

More information

As early as 2000 B.C., bronze technology was highly developed in China, and objects made from this alloy of copper, tin, and lead were considered luxury items, reserved for the aristocratic class. Among these coveted pieces were small bronze mirrors, some compact and portable enough to be held in one hand, and others large and heavy enough to require stands. Usually cast from clay molds, they were highly polished on one side, offering a reflective surface, while the other side was decorated with intricate patterns and designs that reveal an astonishing level of skill and artistry in their craftsmanship. Birds, dragons, and serpents were common motifs in the earliest mirrors. Later, more sophisticated and intricate designs included mythological figures, deities, animals of the Chinese zodiac, abstract patterns, background textures, inscriptions, enamelwork, and inlays of jade, turquoise, and mother-of-pearl.
That these mirrors were prized by their owners is evident not only in light of their fine craftsmanship but also because of related artifacts that point to how they were valued. A pottery tomb figure dating to about the first century B.C. depicts a woman gazing into a mirror while applying powder to her face. An elaborate cosmetic set includes a bronze mirror from around the first century A.D., accompanied by a silk brocade pouch, a wool powder puff, and a lacquered wooden box. Artifacts such as these, along with the mirrors themselves, provide a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of their users.