10th Mar, 2023 10:00

TWO-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism

 
Lot 468
 

468

A ‘CLOUD AND NEBULAE’ BRONZE MIRROR, HAN DYNASTY
漢代星雲紋銅鏡

Sold for €390

including Buyer's Premium


Lot details

China, 206 BC to 220 AD. Of circular form, crisply cast in high relief, the central peaked knob surrounded by six tapering spikes, the main field with four large nipples alternating with clusters of smaller nipples joined by scrolls, all within narrow borders below the raised outer border of further joined arcs.

Provenance
: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror ‘RIE.1976.316’ and ‘73’. Dr. Walter Rieder served in the Swiss East Asia Mission (SOAM) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, between October 1930 and December 1951. The mission specialized in educational, literary, and philanthropic work and Dr. Rieder was in fact, not a theologian or missionary, but a teacher of mathematics, physics, and science to high school students attached to the SOAM. His guiding principles were 'Creating understanding between different cultures' and 'Building bridges between East and West'. While in Qingdao, Dr. Rieder collected a wide variety of Chinese art. The objects in the collection thus offer a unique window into the type of antiques that were on the market in Qingdao in the second quarter of the 20th century. As well as demonstrating his passion for Chinese art, his collection also reveals the personal friendships Dr. Rieder forged with local artists, some of whom he knew from his teaching activities. Dr. Rieder had a scholarly approach to studying his collection. Alongside many of his objects, meticulous notes can sometimes be found detailing his art historical commentaries. The collection was hence Dr. Rieder's gateway to the history and culture of China. Objects from the collection were exhibited at the Kunsthaus in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2006 and 2018.
Condition: Fine condition, commensurate with age, presenting remarkably well. Extensive wear, weathering, corrosion, and nicks. Superb, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite, azurite, and cuprite encrustations.

Weight: 198.2 g
Dimensions: Diameter 10.8 cm

Mirrors of this type are known as 'cloud and nebulae' mirrors because of the type of decoration - clusters of nipples connected by scrolls, which may represent clouds.

Literature comparison:
Compare the mirror of this type illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 132-3, no. 30. Another mirror of this type in the Sumitomo Collection, is illustrated in the exhibition catalog, Chinese Bronze Mirrors, Sen-Oku Hakuko Kan, Kyoto, 8 January - 6 March 2011, no. 23. See, also, the similar mirror illustrated by J. Rawson and E. Bunker, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, Oriental Ceramic Society, Hong Kong, 1990, no. 161, where the authors note that mirrors of this type were common in China and have been found in various provinces including Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hunan and Jiangsu.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2012, lot 1430
Price: USD 4,750 or approx. EUR 5,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze circular 'cloud and nebulae' mirror, mid-Western Han Dynasty, 2nd century BC
Expert remark: Compare the closely related decoration. Note the different size (13 cm) and lack of patina.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s 22 March 2012, lot 1411
Price: USD 10,625 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze circular 'cloud and nebulae' mirror, mid-Western Han dynasty, 2nd century BC
Expert remark: Compare the related motif. Note the different size (13.4 cm) and lack of patina.



漢代星雲紋銅鏡
中國,公元前206年至公元220年。圓鏡,連峯鈕,鈕座外為內向十六連弧紋,與鈕座外的連弧紋相對應。其形狀很像天文星象圖,如星雲紋。

來源:Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986) 收藏,保存至今。鏡面可見收藏標籤 ‘RIE.1976.316 與 ‘73’。Dr. Dr. Walter Rieder 1930 年 10 月至 1951 年 12 月間在山東青島的瑞士東亞傳道部 (SOAM) 任職。該傳道部專門從事教育、文學和慈善工作,而Rieder博士實際上不是神學家或傳教士,而是一位SOAM 附屬高中的數學、物理和科學教師。他的教育原則是“在不同文化之間建立理解”和“在東西方之間架起橋樑”。在青島期間,Rieder博士收藏了種類繁多的中國藝術品。收藏中的物品為了解二十世紀下半葉青島的古玩類型提供了一個獨特的窗口。他的收藏除了展現他對中國藝術的熱情外,還可從中看出Rieder博士與當地藝術家建立的個人友誼,其中一些藝術家是他從教學活動中認識的。 Rieder 博士採用學術方法研究他的收藏。除了他的許多藏品外,有時還可以找到細緻的筆記,詳細介紹其藝術發展史。因此,其收藏成為 Rieder 博士了解中國歷史和文化的窗口。他的收藏曾於 2006年 年和 2018年 年在瑞士因特拉肯美術館館展出。
品相:狀況良好,大面積磨損、風化、腐蝕,有劃痕。極好的、自然生長的包漿,大面積孔雀藍和赤紅色結殼。

重量:198.2 克
尺寸:直徑10.8 厘米

文獻比較:
比較一件相似形制的銅鏡,見《Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum》,上海,2005年,頁132-3,編號30。另一件銅鏡收藏於Sumitomo Collection,見展覽圖錄《Chinese Bronze Mirrors》,Sen-Oku Hakuko Kan,京都,2011年1月8日至3月6日,編號23;也可見於J. Rawson和E. Bunker,《Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes》,香港東方陶瓷學會,1990年,編號161;書中作者指出此類型銅鏡常見於中國的許多地區,例如四川、陝西、湖南和江蘇。

拍賣結果比較:
形制:非常相近
拍賣:紐約佳士得,2012年3月22日,lot 1430
價格:USD 4,750(相當於今日EUR 5,900
描述:西漢中期公元前二世紀星雲紋銅鏡
專家評論:比較非常相近的設計。請注意尺寸不同 (13厘米) 和缺少包漿。

拍賣結果比較:
形制:相近
拍賣:佳士得,2012年3月22日,lot 1411
價格:USD 10,625(相當於今日EUR 13,500
描述:西漢中期公元前二世紀星雲紋銅鏡
專家評論:比較相近的主題。請注意尺寸不同 (13.4厘米) 和缺少包漿。

 

China, 206 BC to 220 AD. Of circular form, crisply cast in high relief, the central peaked knob surrounded by six tapering spikes, the main field with four large nipples alternating with clusters of smaller nipples joined by scrolls, all within narrow borders below the raised outer border of further joined arcs.

Provenance
: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror ‘RIE.1976.316’ and ‘73’. Dr. Walter Rieder served in the Swiss East Asia Mission (SOAM) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, between October 1930 and December 1951. The mission specialized in educational, literary, and philanthropic work and Dr. Rieder was in fact, not a theologian or missionary, but a teacher of mathematics, physics, and science to high school students attached to the SOAM. His guiding principles were 'Creating understanding between different cultures' and 'Building bridges between East and West'. While in Qingdao, Dr. Rieder collected a wide variety of Chinese art. The objects in the collection thus offer a unique window into the type of antiques that were on the market in Qingdao in the second quarter of the 20th century. As well as demonstrating his passion for Chinese art, his collection also reveals the personal friendships Dr. Rieder forged with local artists, some of whom he knew from his teaching activities. Dr. Rieder had a scholarly approach to studying his collection. Alongside many of his objects, meticulous notes can sometimes be found detailing his art historical commentaries. The collection was hence Dr. Rieder's gateway to the history and culture of China. Objects from the collection were exhibited at the Kunsthaus in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2006 and 2018.
Condition: Fine condition, commensurate with age, presenting remarkably well. Extensive wear, weathering, corrosion, and nicks. Superb, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite, azurite, and cuprite encrustations.

Weight: 198.2 g
Dimensions: Diameter 10.8 cm

Mirrors of this type are known as 'cloud and nebulae' mirrors because of the type of decoration - clusters of nipples connected by scrolls, which may represent clouds.

Literature comparison:
Compare the mirror of this type illustrated in Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, pp. 132-3, no. 30. Another mirror of this type in the Sumitomo Collection, is illustrated in the exhibition catalog, Chinese Bronze Mirrors, Sen-Oku Hakuko Kan, Kyoto, 8 January - 6 March 2011, no. 23. See, also, the similar mirror illustrated by J. Rawson and E. Bunker, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, Oriental Ceramic Society, Hong Kong, 1990, no. 161, where the authors note that mirrors of this type were common in China and have been found in various provinces including Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hunan and Jiangsu.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2012, lot 1430
Price: USD 4,750 or approx. EUR 5,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze circular 'cloud and nebulae' mirror, mid-Western Han Dynasty, 2nd century BC
Expert remark: Compare the closely related decoration. Note the different size (13 cm) and lack of patina.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s 22 March 2012, lot 1411
Price: USD 10,625 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze circular 'cloud and nebulae' mirror, mid-Western Han dynasty, 2nd century BC
Expert remark: Compare the related motif. Note the different size (13.4 cm) and lack of patina.



漢代星雲紋銅鏡
中國,公元前206年至公元220年。圓鏡,連峯鈕,鈕座外為內向十六連弧紋,與鈕座外的連弧紋相對應。其形狀很像天文星象圖,如星雲紋。

來源:Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986) 收藏,保存至今。鏡面可見收藏標籤 ‘RIE.1976.316 與 ‘73’。Dr. Dr. Walter Rieder 1930 年 10 月至 1951 年 12 月間在山東青島的瑞士東亞傳道部 (SOAM) 任職。該傳道部專門從事教育、文學和慈善工作,而Rieder博士實際上不是神學家或傳教士,而是一位SOAM 附屬高中的數學、物理和科學教師。他的教育原則是“在不同文化之間建立理解”和“在東西方之間架起橋樑”。在青島期間,Rieder博士收藏了種類繁多的中國藝術品。收藏中的物品為了解二十世紀下半葉青島的古玩類型提供了一個獨特的窗口。他的收藏除了展現他對中國藝術的熱情外,還可從中看出Rieder博士與當地藝術家建立的個人友誼,其中一些藝術家是他從教學活動中認識的。 Rieder 博士採用學術方法研究他的收藏。除了他的許多藏品外,有時還可以找到細緻的筆記,詳細介紹其藝術發展史。因此,其收藏成為 Rieder 博士了解中國歷史和文化的窗口。他的收藏曾於 2006年 年和 2018年 年在瑞士因特拉肯美術館館展出。
品相:狀況良好,大面積磨損、風化、腐蝕,有劃痕。極好的、自然生長的包漿,大面積孔雀藍和赤紅色結殼。

重量:198.2 克
尺寸:直徑10.8 厘米

文獻比較:
比較一件相似形制的銅鏡,見《Ancient Bronze Mirrors from the Shanghai Museum》,上海,2005年,頁132-3,編號30。另一件銅鏡收藏於Sumitomo Collection,見展覽圖錄《Chinese Bronze Mirrors》,Sen-Oku Hakuko Kan,京都,2011年1月8日至3月6日,編號23;也可見於J. Rawson和E. Bunker,《Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes》,香港東方陶瓷學會,1990年,編號161;書中作者指出此類型銅鏡常見於中國的許多地區,例如四川、陝西、湖南和江蘇。

拍賣結果比較:
形制:非常相近
拍賣:紐約佳士得,2012年3月22日,lot 1430
價格:USD 4,750(相當於今日EUR 5,900
描述:西漢中期公元前二世紀星雲紋銅鏡
專家評論:比較非常相近的設計。請注意尺寸不同 (13厘米) 和缺少包漿。

拍賣結果比較:
形制:相近
拍賣:佳士得,2012年3月22日,lot 1411
價格:USD 10,625(相當於今日EUR 13,500
描述:西漢中期公元前二世紀星雲紋銅鏡
專家評論:比較相近的主題。請注意尺寸不同 (13.4厘米) 和缺少包漿。

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