Chinese Tang Dynasty Silvered Bronze Mirror -Phoenix
East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. A large silvered bronze mirror with eight lobes and a raised handle. One side is highly polished and reflective, while the other is decorated with a dramatic molded motif of repeated interlocking phoenixes, vines, and grape clusters. In legend, the phoenix is the most beautiful of all birds, called the feng huang, and the etymology of the name is derived from "emperor". The phoenix will only appear in times of prosperity and peace, second only in the supernatural creatures of the Chinese pantheon to the dragon. The presence of the phoenix on this mirror may indicate that it was made to be given to a bride and later hung on the marriage bed, as the phoenix was a good omen for marriages. Size: 8.45" W (21.5 cm)
Mirrors in ancient China served both practical and spiritual purposes. Bronze mirrors were also luxury goods that would have been expensive to produce and therefore to buy. During the Tang Dynasty, we see the first private workshops beginning, allowing the rising merchant class to purchase mirrors in addition to nobles. When placed in a tomb upon the chest of the deceased, as they often were, they were meant to protect the dead from evil spirits, who were frightened of being seen in reflection. In a similarly symbolic move, women carried "marriage mirrors" on their laps during their wedding procession; these were later hung over the marriage bed to repel evil spirits.
Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s to 1990s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#148103
Condition Report: Rich patina on surface, mottled turquoise and dark grey. Polished surface is still in nice condition. Motifs are clear.
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East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. A large silvered bronze mirror with eight lobes and a raised handle. One side is highly polished and reflective, while the other is decorated with a dramatic molded motif of repeated interlocking phoenixes, vines, and grape clusters. In legend, the phoenix is the most beautiful of all birds, called the feng huang, and the etymology of the name is derived from "emperor". The phoenix will only appear in times of prosperity and peace, second only in the supernatural creatures of the Chinese pantheon to the dragon. The presence of the phoenix on this mirror may indicate that it was made to be given to a bride and later hung on the marriage bed, as the phoenix was a good omen for marriages. Size: 8.45" W (21.5 cm)
Mirrors in ancient China served both practical and spiritual purposes. Bronze mirrors were also luxury goods that would have been expensive to produce and therefore to buy. During the Tang Dynasty, we see the first private workshops beginning, allowing the rising merchant class to purchase mirrors in addition to nobles. When placed in a tomb upon the chest of the deceased, as they often were, they were meant to protect the dead from evil spirits, who were frightened of being seen in reflection. In a similarly symbolic move, women carried "marriage mirrors" on their laps during their wedding procession; these were later hung over the marriage bed to repel evil spirits.
Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s to 1990s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#148103
Condition Report: Rich patina on surface, mottled turquoise and dark grey. Polished surface is still in nice condition. Motifs are clear.
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Estimate
Time, Location
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