Lot 563

Tang Dynasty 8-Lobed Bronze Mirrors, Auspicious Bird Motifs

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Lot 563
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Tang Dynasty 8-Lobed Bronze Mirrors, Auspicious Bird Motifs
Tang Dynasty 8-Lobed Bronze Mirrors, Auspicious Bird Motifs
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Tang Dynasty 8-Lobed Bronze Mirrors, Auspicious Bird Motifs

Estimate: $1,200 - $1,800

Starting Bid: $600

(0 Bids)
June 12, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
Louisville, CO, US
Description:

East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty., ca. 600 - 999 CE. Two matched eight-lobed bronze mirrors with a high tin content, giving it a bright, silvery luster. The reverse side is intricately decorated with a ring of auspicious birds - with a pierced hole for suspension. In ancient China, bronze mirrors served both functional and symbolic purposes. As luxury goods, they were costly to produce and initially reserved for the elite. However, during the Tang Dynasty, the emergence of private workshops expanded access to the rising merchant class. Mirrors were often placed on the chest of the deceased in tombs as protective talismans, believed to repel malevolent spirits by confronting them with their reflection. Size: 3.75" W x 3.75" H x 125" D (9.5 cm W x 9.5 cm H x 317.5 cm D)

This piece has been tested for the presence or absence of particular elements via XRF elemental analysis and is consistent with metals of this period.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, 2025; ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired between 1985 and 2003

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Item # 202636

  • Condition: Oxidition to surfaces but details quite crisp.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 + $1,000