A Korean bronze mirror

Estimated Value:

500 € - 800 €

Result:

incl. Premium and VAT

Description:

Korea, Koryo dynasty, 12th/13th cent.
D. 17,5 cm
With thickened, blossom shaped moulded rim. In flat relief a ship with a dragon's head at the bow and a high mast. The ship is surrounded by strongly moving waves, from which a sea monster emerges on the left. Above the central knob four archaic characters: huang pi ch'ang ch'on (heaven, earth, water and fire, ütranslated: glorious like the shining sky).
Collection Klaus Nierhoff (1926 - 2011), acquired at Lempertz Köln, probably before 1995, old description preserved
This type of mirror has been preserved in numerous variations. Many of them were excavated in Kaesong, the former capital of the Koryo period (Lee Nan-young, Hanguk ui tongyõng, Seoul 1983, fig. pp. 101-102). However, mirrors with the same motif are also known from Chinese excavations. Whether this mirror is of Chinese or Korean manufacture therefore remains unclear. These mirrors can be found in numerous collections, including the Museum für ostasiatische Kunst in Köln (Meisterwerke aus China, Korea und Japan, Köln 1977, cat. no. 89) - Part. corroded

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