A SILVERY BRONZE 'CHANGYI ZISUN' MIRROR, HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC to 220 AD. The circular mirror with a central domed knob raised on a quatrefoil platform. The sophisticated geometric design is intercepted by a four-character inscription, encircled by a scalloped band, all below a broad rim. The mirror with a superb patina with extensive malachite and azurite encrustations.

Inscriptions: Encircling the central knob, 'Changyi zisun' (To benefit a long line of descendants).

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror and wood repository. A copy of an old handwritten note by Dr. Rieder, dating the piece to the Han dynasty and deciphering the Changyi zisun inscription on the mirror, accompanies this lot. 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, nicks, losses. Superb, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite and azurite encrustations.

Weight: 272.7 g
Dimensions: Diameter 11.7 cm

With a fitted wood repository. (2)

Literature comparison:
A number of mirrors of similar pattern are known. Two are in the Idemitsu Collection, illustrated in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, pls. 276 and 278. One is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Palace Museum's Collections of Bronze Mirrors, Beijing, 2008, pl. 18. Another two in the Donald H. Graham Jr. Collection are illustrated by Wong Yanchung, 'Bronze Mirror Art of the Han Dynasty', Chinese Bronzes - Selected articles from Orientations 1983-2000, Hong Kong, 2001, pp. 64-65, figs. 12-13.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 500
Price: USD 5,000 or approx. EUR 6,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silvery bronze mirror, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related design. Note the size (20.6 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's London, 3 November 2021, lot 119
Price: GBP 3,780 or approx. EUR 4,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A brightly patinated bronze mirror, Han dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the fine patina, also the combination of azurite and malachite. Note the size (17.8 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot 4144
Price: HKD 30,000 or approx. EUR 4,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze 'geometric design' mirror, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related design. Note the size (16 cm).



漢代鎏銀《長宜子孫》銅鏡
中國，公元前206至公元220年。銅鏡背面四瓣如意紋，中間相間“長宜子孫”四字，中央圓頂鈕。極好的綠色銅鏽，大量的藍綠色結殼。

來源：Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986)舊藏，在同一家族保存至今。隨附Rieder 博士手寫的關於年代與字樣的説明。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、刻痕、缺損。具有大量藍綠色銅鏽。

重量：272.7 克
尺寸：直接 11.7 厘米

木質 (2)

文獻比較：
有些著名的銅鏡有相同的紋飾。兩件收藏於出光美術館，《中国の工芸品‧出光美術館蔵品図録》，東京，1989年，編號276和278。一件收藏於北京故宮博物院，見《故宮銅鏡圖典》，2008年，編號18。另兩件收藏於 Donald H. Graham Jr. Collection ，見Wong Yanchung，〈Bronze Mirror Art of the Han Dynasty〉，《Chinese Bronzes - Selected articles from Orientations 1983-2000》，香港，2001年，頁64-65，圖12-13。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2008年3月19日，lot 500
價格：USD 5,000（相當於今日EUR 6,400）
描述：漢代鎏銀銅鏡
專家評論：比較非常相近的設計。請注意尺寸 (20.6 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2021年11月3日，lot 119
價格：GBP 3,780（相當於今日EUR 4,500）
描述：漢代銅鏡
專家評論：比較良好的包漿、大量藍綠色銅鏽。請注意尺寸 (17.8 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2012年5月30日，lot 4144
價格：HKD 30,000（相當於今日EUR 4,700）
描述：東漢 「長宜子孫」銘連弧紋銅鏡
專家評論：比較非常相近的設計。請注意尺寸(16 厘米)。