17th Oct, 2024 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
72
A RARE ‘LION AND GRAPEVINE’ SILVER-INSET BRONZE MIRROR, TANG DYNASTY
Sold for €4,420
including Buyer's Premium
China. 618-907. Of square form, the bronze is inlaid to one side with a superbly chased and neatly incised silver sheet. The central beast-form knop is surrounded by six lions with raised heads, frolicking amidst leafy fruiting grapevines, enclosed by a raised circular border. The outer field shows a bird to each corner amid further vines, all below the scroll-decorated rim.
Expert’s note: Every detail of this piece exemplifies the pinnacle of Tang silver craftsmanship, showcasing the finest incision work and the highest quality silverwork known from the period. The techniques employed—chasing, hammering, chiseling, and incising—are executed with such precision that even under 100x magnification, the artistry remains absolutely flawless. The meticulous attention to detail reflects the exceptional skill of Tang artisans, making this piece a true masterpiece of its era. We highly recommend enlarging the detailed high resolution photos for a closer look.
Provenance: From the private collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York. Alan Hartman (1930-2023) was an influential American art dealer, who took over his parents’ antique business in Manhattan and established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue, with further locations in Dallas and Palm Beach. His wife Simone (née Horowitz) already served as assistant manager of the New York gallery before the couple married in 1975, and together they built a renowned collection for over half a century and became noted art patrons, enriching the collections of important museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (which opened the Alan and Simone Hartman Galleries in 2013) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum in New York. Alan Hartman has been described as the greatest antiques dealer of our generation, and was widely recognized as a world authority in Chinese jade, bronzes, and Asian works of art.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Wear, signs of weathering and erosion, slight corrosion, scattered dents and nicks, and small losses. The silvery bronze with a naturally grown patina with some malachite encrustations.
Weight: 1,192 g
Dimensions: Length 16.1 cm
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 September 2021, lot 48
Estimate: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 31,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt-silver-inset bronze mirror, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related technique, the silvered bronze similarly inlaid to one side with a silver sheet. Note the different form, ring-punched ground, and the smaller size (13 cm).
China. 618-907. Of square form, the bronze is inlaid to one side with a superbly chased and neatly incised silver sheet. The central beast-form knop is surrounded by six lions with raised heads, frolicking amidst leafy fruiting grapevines, enclosed by a raised circular border. The outer field shows a bird to each corner amid further vines, all below the scroll-decorated rim.
Expert’s note: Every detail of this piece exemplifies the pinnacle of Tang silver craftsmanship, showcasing the finest incision work and the highest quality silverwork known from the period. The techniques employed—chasing, hammering, chiseling, and incising—are executed with such precision that even under 100x magnification, the artistry remains absolutely flawless. The meticulous attention to detail reflects the exceptional skill of Tang artisans, making this piece a true masterpiece of its era. We highly recommend enlarging the detailed high resolution photos for a closer look.
Provenance: From the private collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York. Alan Hartman (1930-2023) was an influential American art dealer, who took over his parents’ antique business in Manhattan and established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue, with further locations in Dallas and Palm Beach. His wife Simone (née Horowitz) already served as assistant manager of the New York gallery before the couple married in 1975, and together they built a renowned collection for over half a century and became noted art patrons, enriching the collections of important museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (which opened the Alan and Simone Hartman Galleries in 2013) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum in New York. Alan Hartman has been described as the greatest antiques dealer of our generation, and was widely recognized as a world authority in Chinese jade, bronzes, and Asian works of art.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Wear, signs of weathering and erosion, slight corrosion, scattered dents and nicks, and small losses. The silvery bronze with a naturally grown patina with some malachite encrustations.
Weight: 1,192 g
Dimensions: Length 16.1 cm
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 September 2021, lot 48
Estimate: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 31,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt-silver-inset bronze mirror, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related technique, the silvered bronze similarly inlaid to one side with a silver sheet. Note the different form, ring-punched ground, and the smaller size (13 cm).
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