A collection of Chinese bronze mirrors from the Arthur M Sackler Collections @ Christie's New York

金銀錯青銅鏡  A rare large gold and silver-inlaid lacquered bronze mirror. Tang dynasty (618-907)

Of circular form, the back covered in black lacquer inlaid with three large silver flower sprays alternating with gold birds in flight above gold lotus motifs and silver leaves, all interspersed with further leaves, butterflies and foliate motifs; together with two small silver-backed octalobed bronze mirrors, Tang dynasty, both silver-sheet backs executed in repoussé on a fine ring-punched ground, one with lions and birds amidst leafy scrolling vines, the other with three birds in flight between foliate stems; all with some malachite green encrustation. 8 3/8 and 2 7/16 in. (21.3 and 6.2 cm.) across, box (3) - Est. $20,000 - $30,000

Provenance: All: J.T. Tai & Co., New York; first 1974, second and third 1966.

Exhibited: Second: Art of the T'ang Dynasty and its Antecedents, Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, New York March, 1967, no. 31.

Notes: Mirrors of this type, with their rich combination of gold and silver decoration on a lacquer ground set into the back of the bronze mirror, reflect the splendor and sumptuous taste of the Tang court. Mirrors similar to the present example found their way to Japan at an early date, such as the eight-lobed mirror in the Shoso-in, illustrated by Ryochi Hayashi, The Silk Road and the Shoso-in, New York/Tokyo, 1975, p. 129, fig. 142. Another similarly decorated eight-lobed mirror is illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji (The Great Treasury of Chinese Fine Arts), vol. 8, Arts and Crafts - Lacquerware, Beijing, 1989, p. 80, no. 78.

十二生肖青銅鏡  A large silvery bronze zodiac mirror  Sui-Early Tang dynasty, 6th-7th century

The knob within a square border surrounded by the Guardians of the Four Directions below narrow sawtooth borders, the rim with the twelve animals of the zodiac and an outer inscription border; together with two smaller mirrors, Eastern Han dynasty, the central field of the larger crisply cast in high relief with four dragons biting angular scrolls radiating from the knob, encircled by birds, fish and four small character panels, the rim with foliate diamond pattern incorporating small roundels containing single characters; the smaller crisply cast in high relief with seated Daoist immortals and animals encircled by squares enclosing characters alternating with semi-circles, below an inscription and scroll border on the rim. 8 5/8, 5¾ and 4 3/16 in. (21.8, 14.7 and 10.6 cm.) diam., one box (3) - Est. $7,000 - $9,000

Provenance: First: Frank Caro, New York, prior to 1966.
Second: J.T. Tai & Co., New York, 1974.
Third: William H. Wolff, Inc., New York, prior to 1966.

Exhibited: First: Art of the T'ang Dynasty and its Antecedents, Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, March 1967.

鎏銀銅鏡 A large silvery-bronze octagonal mirror  Tang dynasty (618-907)

The knob surrounded by two geese pulling on the ends of a tassel suspended from a lotus above, a parrot below, and two flanking geese with lotus buds in their beaks standing atop lotus flowers, with insects, flowers and clouds on the rim, extensive malachite green encrustation; together with a silvery-bronze circular mirror, Tang dynasty, crisply cast with a lion-shaped knob surrounded by lions amidst grapevine, the outer field with various animals and birds amidst foliate scroll below small clouds at the rim. 9¼ and 6¾ in. (23.5 and 17.2 cm.) diam. (2) - Est. $6,000 - $8,000

Provenance: First: J.T. Tai & Co., New York, 1966.
Second: Frank Caro, New York, 1965.

Exhibited: First: Art of the T'ang Dynasty and its Antecedents, Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, New York, March 1967, no. 21.
Second: Selections from Private Collections in the New York Metropolitan Area, China Institute in America, New York, October 1966.
East Meets West: Cross Fertilization, Grey Art Gallery, New York University, 14 September - 17 October 1981.

青銅鏡 三枚  Three small silvery-bronze mirrors. Tang dynasty (618-907)

One of barbed octalobed shape, cast around the knob with two lions alternating with two ducks amidst flowering stems, below insects and clouds alternating on the barbed rim; one square, with an octagonal foliate motif surrounding the knob; the third circular, cast with a bee and insect alternating with birds amidst grapevine surrounding the knob, within a narrow beaded border and an outer field of insects amidst further grapevine. 4, 3 5/8 and 3 3/8 in. (10.2, 9.2 and 8.5 cm.) (3). Est. $6,000 - $8,000

Provenance : First and second: Frank Caro, New York, prior to 1967.
Third: J.T. Tai & Co., New York, 1974.

Exhibited: First and second: Art of the T'ang Dynasty and its Antecedents, Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, New York, March 1967, nos. 29 and 33 respectively.

青銅鏡二枚  Two bronze mirrors. Xin-Eastern Han dynasty (9-220)

One of 'TLV' type, the central knob within a quatrefoil motif and square border, surrounded by eight nipples and a Daoist immortal and seven celestial creatures amidst T, L and V motifs, encircled by an inscription and hatchured border, all below three different dogtooth bands on the outer rim; the other with a large knop rising from four horned dragons within a square border, surrounded by the Dragon, Black Turtle, Tiger and a sword-wielding bear, all accompanied by Daoist immortals, encircled by a hatchured border, and below dogtooth and animal-form cloud bands on the inclined rim, both with blackish-grey patina. 7 3/16 and 7¼ in. (18.1 and 18.5 cm.) diam. (2) - Est. $4,000 - $6,000

Provenance: Both: J.T. Tai & Co., New York, 1965.

青銅鏡 三枚 Three bronze mirrors. Eastern Han dynasty (25-220)

Including a blackish mirror finely cast with two pairs of winged tigers and dragons confronted around the knob and encircled by an inscription and a hatchured band below decorative bands on the inclined rim; one silvery and thick, finely cast in high relief with two horned and winged dragons confronted around the central knob, within a hatchured band below cloud scroll on the rim; the third also blackish, with a striding dragon and a knotted snake surrounding the knob, below various animals and birds flat-cast on the inclined rim. 5, 4 5/8 and 4¾ in. (12.7, 11.8 and 12 cm.) diam., one box (3) - Est. $4,000 - $6,000

Provenance: First: Frank Caro, New York, 1964.
Second: J.T. Tai & Co., New York, 1966.
Third: Desmond Gure Collection, 1968.

Literature: Third mirror: D. Gure, "An Early Jade Animal Vessel and Some Parallels", T.O.C.S., vol. 31, London, 1957-59, pp. 75-81, pl. 28a (detail).

Christie's. Property from the Arthur M Sackler Collections. 14 September 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. Image Christie's Ltd 2009 www.christies.com