? A SILVERED BRONZE ‘LION AND GRAPEVINE’ MIRROR, TANG DYNASTY China, 618-907. Finely cast at the center with a crouching beast-form loop, surrounded by a band of six recumbent lions among fruiting grapevines, encircled by a further band featuring pairs of phoenixes, geese, deer, and boar amid additional grapevines, all beneath a narrow border of geometric design.
Weight: 1,238 g
Dimensions: Diameter 16.5 cm
Provenance: The Ben Essex Collection of Chinese Art, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above. Dr. Ben Essex is a noted English collector of ancient Chinese works of art. He inherited an impressive collection from his grandfather Max Lowenson, and has been expanding it with great verve and passion for decades. Today, pieces from Dr. Essex's collection are housed in the National Museum of Wales.
Condition: Very good condition with expected wear and casting irregularities. Minor nicks, scratches, and rubbed areas. The bronze with a fine, naturally grown patina with patches of malachite encrustation.
Bronze mirrors began to be produced in China over 4,000 years ago, for use both during one’s lifetime and for burials. This mirror is decorated with a design of lions among grapevines and speaks to connections between China and foreign lands during the Tang dynasty. Lion designs were first introduced into China with the introduction of Buddhism and became a popular motif on bronze mirrors in the Tang period, very often combined with grape designs inspired by the grape wine imports from Central Asia.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1142
Price: USD 47,500 or approx. EUR 57,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze 'Lion and Grapevine' mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and motif. Note the size (17.7 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2014, lot 1015
Price: USD 68,750 or approx. EUR 80,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silvery bronze 'Lion and Grapevine' mirror, Tang dynasty (ad 618-907)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and motif. Note the size (17.7 cm).
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Terms of Auction
§ 1) The auction shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the rules of procedure of GALERIE ZACKE?, SZA VERSTEIGERUNGEN UND VERTRIEBS GMBH, MARIAHILFERSTRASSE 112, 1070 WIEN (hereinafter referred to as the company) as well as in accordance with sections 244-246 of the GEWERBEORDNUNG [Industrial Code] of 1994. The auction shall be carried out on commission. The auctioneer shall be entitled to withdraw lots exceptionally, to conduct the auction deviating from the order of the catalog numbers and to offer lots jointly. In the event of any dispute concerning a double bid or if the auctioneer has missed a bid, the auctioneer shall be entitled to revoke acceptance of a bid and to continue auctioning the item. The figures stated in the catalog shall be the highest bid in Euro (€) expected by the respective expert. As a rule, the bid shall be increased by 10% of the last bid. (See table of the bidding increments).
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