TWO BRONZE CIRCULAR MIRRORS WITH DEITIES AND INSCRIPTIONS EASTERN HAN DYNASTY

one mirror cast around the large central knop with musicians and beasts interspersed with recessed roundels to receive gemstones, encircled by a band of seal faces forming a poetic inscription that may be translated, "May you have sons and grandsons, who will give you joy forever; made in the fourth month of the first year of Jian'an (196 AD)" alternating with half-disc sun whorls between triangular borders, further enclosed by striding beasts and a band of scrolls to the rim; the other with a similarly large central knop pierced by a central hole, cast with six registers of animals and figures, Xi Wangmu and Dong Wanggong to either side and Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, the fifth register is Tianhuang Dadi and the two beast masters Huanlong controlling the animals of the four directions, the inscription which runs along the border may be transcribed, "The divine mirror of the Five Emperors was originally made by the sages, I have made this bright mirror; in seclusion I have refined it for three periods; its virtue matches with that of the 10,000 regions. Po Ya performed the music and the the gods appeared:  the heavenly pipes are still extant.  May this mirror grant you 1000 rewards and 100 riches and increase your long life. May you be blessed with sons and grandsons who will become marquises, princes, dukes and ministers." (2)

Acquired in the 1970s and 80s and thence by descent.

Jessica Rawson, The Bella and P.P. Chiu Collection of Ancient Chinese Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1988, nos, 50 and 51.

Both mirrors are in good condition. There is loss to the surface on the larger one with a small chip on the rim.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A similar mirror to the first was sold 20th March 2007, lot 536. A similar mirror to the second is illustrated and discussed by Toru Nakano, Bronze Mirrors From Ancient China, Donald H. Graham, Jr. Collection, Hong Kong, 1994, pp. 172-3.