Tang Dynasty Bronze Eight-Lobed Mirror with Flower, Bird & Fruit Relief, Tang Dynasty, 7th–10th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: 22 cm (8.66 inches) in diameter, 1482 grams in weight. Condition and Provenance: This bronze mirror is intact, without cracks, defects, or signs of repair. The eight-petaled flower-shaped frame is clearly defined. The mirror surface retains a thick, silvery-white bronze patina, adorned with malachite green and cuprite red rust deposits formed naturally over hundreds of years, not artificial rust. The bird, flower, and fruit relief patterns on the back of the mirror are clear and three-dimensional, with fine details in the bird feathers, leaves, and fruits, showing no obvious wear. The mirror knob is intact and surrounded by a complete and exquisite beaded ornament. The edges of the mirror show slight wear due to its age, but this does not affect the overall decorative effect. Market Assessment: This eight-petaled bronze mirror is a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty metalwork, made specifically for noblewomen's daily makeup, and is one of the finest surviving medieval Chinese bronze artifacts. The eight-petaled flower-shaped frame was an innovative and popular design in the Tang Dynasty, breaking away from the rigid round mirror shapes of previous dynasties and showcasing a free and romantic artistic taste. The frame's design radiates outwards from a central solid ridge, surrounded by a tightly woven border of concentric beads, dividing the decorative area. Within this area, multiple high-relief patterns depict birds flitting among blooming branches and ripe fruits symbolizing abundance. Each bird is depicted in a different posture, some soaring, others perched on blossoms, with meticulously detailed feather textures. Complementing the blooming flowers and peaches symbolizing wealth, winding vines and leaves cover the back of the mirror, creating a vibrant scene. The combination of birds, flowers, and fruits embodies classic Tang Dynasty auspicious meanings: joy, peace, and prosperity. This mirror is cast from a high-tin bronze alloy used in the Tang Dynasty imperial bronze workshops. The back retains its original silvery-white luster and is further enhanced by the natural layered ancient green and red mineral corrosion accumulated underground over millennia, without any modern chemical treatment. Large Tang Dynasty bird-and-flower mirrors with a diameter of 22 centimeters are extremely rare among extant examples. This mirror possesses triple collectible value: groundbreaking bronze casting technology of the Tang Dynasty, pinnacle of Tang Dynasty painting aesthetics, and profound symbolic significance of ancient Chinese folk culture. It is a coveted core item for West Coast bronze collectors in the United States, and perfectly suited for permanent display in private art collections and Chinese classical antique exhibition spaces.

图片