Two archaic bronze mirrors

Western and Eastern Han Dynasty

Western and Eastern Han Dynasty
Both heavily cast, one mirror with a dense design of stylised dragons around the central medallion with characters, the other mirror with a design of figures and animals. The largest 23cm (9 1/8in) diam.

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Provenance: The Mengdiexuan Collection

Exhibited: Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong & Urban Council of Hong Kong, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, 12 October - 2 December 1990 (dragons and characters-decorated mirror)

Published and Illustrated: J.Rawson and E.Bunker, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1990, p.236, no.156 (dragons and characters-decorated mirror)

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Compare a similar archaic bronze mirror, Han dynasty, illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Bronze Mirrors in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, no.7.